Tamás Aján is facing six challengers for the Presidency of the IWF ©Getty Images

Tamás Aján is facing six challengers for the Presidency of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) after the governing body revealed the list of candidates.

Qatar's Mohamed Yousef Al-Mana, China's Ma Wenguang, Ali Moradi of Iran, Monico Puentevella of The Philippines, Romania's Nicu Vlad and European Weightlifting Federation President Antonio Urso are all vying to become IWF President.

Hungary's Aján has been at the helm of the organisation since 2000 and was challenged by Italian Urso back in 2013.

The candidates were confirmed at an Executive Board meeting, which took place prior to the start of the World Youth Championships in Bangkok, which begin today.

The elections are due to be held during an IWF Electoral Congress in the Thai capital from May 29 to 30.

The surprising amount of names in the frame for the top job at the IWF could be perceived as an attempt from Aján to split the vote in a bid to ensure he retains his Presidency.

Ma, Moradi and Vlad are also in the running for the position of general secretary, as is director general Attila Adamfi.

Peruvian Olympic Committee President Jose Quinones, who is currently a vice-president, has put himself forward, along with Mohammed Jaloud of Iraq.

Antonio Urso, right, is mounting another challenge for the IWF Presidency ©IWF
Antonio Urso, right, is mounting another challenge for the IWF Presidency ©IWF

Russian Weightlifting Federation head Maxim Agapitov is among the candidates for the role of first vice-president.

Agapitov is trying to change the culture of Russian weightlifting after a series of damning doping revelations that made 2016 arguably the worst year on record for Olympic weightlifting and for the country in particular. 

Quinones and incumbent Vlad are among the challengers, while Australian Sam Coffa is also standing.

For the first time, the IWF Executive Board will feature two women as a result of the nominations as the IWF continue their efforts at establishing gender equality within the governing body.

Canada's Moira Lassen is currently the only female representative on the Executive Board.

A total of 119 candidates were proposed from 72 nations for the various available positions in the organisation.

Those who are standing will have the chance to lobby the electorate during the ongoing World Youth Championships and the European Weightlifting Championships in Split.

As a result of the two events, the IWF have not sent an official delegation to the SportAccord Convention here.

The full list of nominations can be found here.