Iranian named WTF secretary general

Dallas-based Iranian Hossein Rafaty has been picked as secretary general of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF).

The appointment of Rafaty, a long-term replacement for Jean-Marie Ayer, is particularly significant as he started his career within the rival International Taekwon-do Federation (ITF), insidethegames.biz reported.

It is hoped he will act as a pacifier between the two bodies.

Relations between the two have improved considerably in recent months.

Rafaty was awarded a taekwondo third dan by the ITF before shifting organizations, and the official has served as special assistant to the WTF president since 2007 as well as president of the WTF International Foundation since 2008 and chairman of the WTF Expansion Committee since 2009.

“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Hoss Rafaty as the WTF secretary general," said President Choue, following the meeting.

"I have no doubt that he will contribute greatly to the future development of the WTF.

"His relationship with the ITF will help enhance the future cooperation between our two federations and strengthen the world taekwondo family.

“This is a very important time for the WTF as the Olympic Movement enters into a new era under IOC President Bach’s visionary leadership and Olympic Agenda 2020."

"We are committed to being a valuable partner to the Olympic Movement and we believe that our latest administrative appointments will ensure that we continue to innovate and evolve as we aim to provide the best sport for our athletes and millions of fans around the world.”

Elsewhere, South Korea’s Yang Jin Bang has also been named director general of the WTF Seoul office, while French Taekwondo Federation head Roger Piarulli will assume a similar role in the European office in Lausanne.

Choi Chan Shin has also been appointed WTF standing advisor.

Following the raft of announcements revealed today, the WTF General Assembly could be a slightly quieter affair, although President Choue has revealed that the subject of the WTF's continued affiliation with SportAccord will be on the agenda.

This follows the decision of the International Boxing Association to suspend their membership last week, and withdraw from the next edition of the World Combat Games, a SportAccord-organized event in which taekwondo also participates.

Choue insisted it was not up to him to make it decision, but for the membership as a whole, although he did admit to have been "surprised" by the critical words of SportAccord and International Judo Federation President Marius Vizer about the IOC and its President Thomas Bach uttered at last month's convention in Sochi.

The WTF is also one of 27 summer federations to have signed a letter supporting the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations' decision to "dissociate" its membership.

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