German Weightlifting Federation President Christian Baumgartner has been unanimously re-elected for a second four-year term ©IWF

German Weightlifting Federation (BVDG) President Christian Baumgartner has been unanimously re-elected for a second four-year term.

Baumgartner, who is also a member of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Executive Board, was given the strong show of support at the BVDG’s Electoral Congress.

Weightlifting has been shrouded in doping controversy in recent times with Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia among the nations facing one-year suspensions.

It follows the re-testing of doping samples from the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who have used up-to-date methods.

Baumgartner insists, however, that the BVDG has "kept a clear position" over the past four years and "demonstrated that we do not tolerate any doping offences".

"That was an important aspect contributing to the positive image of German weightlifting nationally and internationally," he said.

"But we should not make the mistake to focus our attention to this topic alone."

Germany last won an Olympic medal in weightlifting at Beijing 2008, where Matthias Steiner claimed men’s over 105 kilograms gold.

Despite failing to secure a podium finish at either London 2012 or Rio 2016, Baumgartner is confident the country can make their mark at future Games.

Matthias Steiner is Germany's most recent Olympic medal-winning weightlifter having claimed men's over 105kg gold at Beijing 2008 ©Getty Images
Matthias Steiner is Germany's most recent Olympic medal-winning weightlifter having claimed men's over 105kg gold at Beijing 2008 ©Getty Images

"We know that our athletes aren’t on top of the world elite at the moment," he added.  

"But we all together will work very hard to be back at the top in 2020 or 2024.

"This includes also working consistently on international equality of opportunities in our sport.

"For this we will need full support of our National Olympic Committee and our German Government.

"And we will have to renovate our federation operationally."

Alexander Meinhard-Heib, vice-president of sport, was one of three newly-confirmed members of the BVDG Managing Board together with Patrick Fassott, vice-president of finance and administration, and Carsten Diemer, who is responsible for youth sport.

They now sit beside the fully-employed constitutional members - director of sport Frank Mantek and managing director Jochen Stüber.

Claus Umbach, the BVDG President from 2000 until 2012, was elected as second Honorary President alongside Wolfgang Peter.