Pakistan’s star weightlifter and strongman Nooh Dastagir Butt has added two more international gold medals to his growing collection, overcoming injury and competing against athletes he claims were using performance-enhancing drugs.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games champion returned from Uzbekistan with two gold medals and one silver after a remarkable showing at major strongman events in June.
Nooh first secured gold at the Sixth International Pehalvon Mahmud Strongmen Games in the historic city of Khiva on June 14. He defeated South Korea’s Yoo Useong in the Jalaluddin Sword Challenge by holding a 14-kilogram sword vertically for one minute and 49 seconds.
He followed that performance with another gold in the log-push water pool team event at the Farhod Challenge in Tashkent. His team won four closely contested battles against athletes from the Czech Republic, Mongolia and Iran.
The achievement came despite a knee injury that limited his performance.
“We won one medal in our first appearance and two in the second,” Nooh told Dawn in an exclusive interview.
“This time we were aiming for three medals but I had a knee injury because of which I couldn’t perform at my 100 per cent. Still, I gave my best and brought these medals home for Pakistan.”
‘Most Of The Athletes Were Using Steroids’
Nooh also made a startling claim about the state of international strongman competitions.
“Most of the athletes I competed against were using steroids,” the 28-year-old said.
The Pakistani athlete stressed that he refuses to use banned substances despite competing against stronger and often heavier rivals.
As an elite weightlifter, Nooh remains subject to random testing by the International Testing Agency and other anti-doping authorities.
“I don’t use any steroids,” he stated firmly. “Despite this I was able to match others’ strength and was able to win two medals. That’s an achievement for me.”
Nooh’s success comes at a difficult time for Pakistan’s weightlifting community. The country’s weightlifting federation remains suspended from international activities because of administrative failures and anti-doping rule violations.
The International Weightlifting Federation imposed penalties after multiple doping cases emerged in 2021. An unpaid fine exceeding $30,000 and governance issues continue to block Pakistan’s return to international competition.
As a result, Pakistani weightlifters cannot compete at upcoming events, including the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
“Some of the guys doped in international competition which unfortunately led to the suspension of the federation,” Nooh lamented.
“So, I can’t compete in weightlifting contests and I don’t see any point in training for something in which I can’t compete.”
“The issue wasted four years of my weightlifting career.”
World Games Dream Remains Alive
Unable to compete internationally in weightlifting, Nooh shifted his focus to powerlifting and strongman competitions. The decision has already produced major results.
“If I had stayed in hope that the issue would be resolved, I would have missed out on the medals that I won in powerlifting and strongman,” he reflected. “I think that was the right decision.”
Looking ahead, Nooh plans to compete in the Arnold Classic Strongman competition in the United States next year. He has also set his sights on the 2029 World Games in Germany.
“I will go for a world record in squat and go for gold in bench press and deadlift in the World Games and hopefully bring the first-ever World Games gold for Pakistan,” he vowed.
“My dream is to win a gold medal in a major tournament, be it in weightlifting or powerlifting.”
“I just need my nation’s prayers and I will win a medal. If not in weightlifting, then in powerlifting. If not there, then in World Strongmen. But I will bring a major title home before I hang up my boots.”
