site.btaBulgarian Olympic Committee President-Elect Issues Open Letter over Weightlifting Federation Crisis

Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC) President-elect Vesela Lecheva Saturday issued an open letter regarding the ongoing problems within the Bulgarian Weightlifting Federation.

"I am following with concern and anxiety the situation in the Bulgarian Weightlifting Federation. Yesterday, our national team was faced with the threat of suspending its preparation for the European Championship. This crisis has been ongoing for weeks, and the persistence of former [federation] president Stefan Botev, who is attempting to sabotage the work of the federation, is entirely unacceptable. In doing so, he harms athletes, coaches and clubs. He is damaging Bulgarian sport as a whole ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympic Games," Lecheva wrote.

She noted that only days ago Karlos Nasar was named Bulgaria's Sportsperson of 2025 in competition with world and European champions from various sports. According to Lecheva, 2025 was an exceptionally successful year for Bulgarian sport, while 2026 began in the same way, with Bulgaria's strongest Winter Olympic Games performance in the past 20 years.

"Against this backdrop, actions by presidents such as Stefan Botev, who have lost elections but are attempting to retain power through administrative tricks and abuse of the judiciary, are a stain on Bulgarian sport," the letter says.

"As BOC President, and as a representative of the sports community, I call for a return to fair play and normal relations in Bulgarian sport. It needs clear rules and legality, not abuse of justice," Lecheva added.

She also addressed prominent figures in sport, urging them not to allow themselves to be used in "someone else's scenarios", to protect their names and remember that the national anthem has been played in their honour.

"Do not obstruct athletes, coaches and specialists from demonstrating their abilities now, developing, winning victories and building the future of Bulgarian sport," Lecheva said in her letter.

The newly elected BOC leadership, headed by Lecheva, has not yet been registered in the Commercial Register due to ongoing court appeals. On May 17, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it had provisionally recognized the results of the BOC Elective General Assembly on March 19, 2025, confirming that Lecheva and her team are the only individuals authorized to represent the BOC to the IOC, within the Olympic Movement, and at all IOC-recognized events and Games.