KARACHI: He stood on the platform in Khiva, knee throbbing, body not at 100 per cent, competing in a sport where most of his rivals were using performance-enhancing drugs.
And still, Nooh Dastagir Butt won gold in the historic city of Uzbekistan recently.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist added two more medals to his collection during a remarkable run in the central Asian country.
First came gold at the Sixth International Pehalvon Mahmud Strongmen Games in Khiva on June 14, where he defeated Yoo Useong of South Korea in the Jalaluddin Sword Challenge.
Holding a 14kg sword vertically for one minute and 49 seconds, Nooh clinched the gold. He then followed it up with another gold in the log-push water pool team event at the Farhod Challenge in Tashkent, winning four neck-to-neck battles against athletes from the Czech Republic, Mongolia and Iran.
It was his third appearance in the competition.
“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.”
NO STEROIDS, NO COMPROMISE
Strongman competitions are a different beast entirely from the weightlifting that made him a household name. And crucially, Nooh revealed, the sport is plagued by doping.
“Most of the athletes I competed against were using steroids,” the 28-year-old said.
But Nooh, the clean athlete, refuses to follow suit. As an Olympic lifter, he remains subject to random testing by the International Testing Agency at any moment.
“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.”
TIME WASTED
For the past four years, however, Nooh has been frozen out of the sport that defined him.
Pakistan’s weightlifting federation is currently suspended from all international activities due to severe administrative irregularities and anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs).
An unpaid fine of more than $30,000 imposed by the International Weightlifting Federation and the Court of Arbitration for Sport remains outstanding, stemming from systemic doping violations in 2021. Former federation president Hafiz Imran Butt and coach Irfan Butt have also been handed lifetime bans.
The fallout has been devastating for Pakistan’s weightlifters. They cannot compete in the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, nor the Commonwealth Games starting next month in Scotland.
“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.”
He paused, then with a sigh added: “The issue wasted four years of my weightlifting career.”
In those four years, Nooh has been forced to pivot, finding success in powerlifting and strongman events. But the weightlifter in him remains.
“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.”
EYES ON WORLD GAMES 2029
Looking ahead, Nooh is planning to compete in the Arnold Classic Strongman competition in the United States next year. Beyond that, the 2029 World Games in Germany are firmly in his sights.
“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.
“In the meantime, if I get an opportunity in weightlifting, I will try my level best there. I have always been a weightlifter — that’s what I dedicated myself to — so it’s my heart’s wish to win something significant in weightlifting.”
Concluding with a pledge that encapsulates his unwavering spirit, Nooh said: “My dream is to win a gold medal in a major tournament, be it in weightlifting or powerlifting. If I don’t get a chance in the LA Olympics, I will start preparations for the World Games and win this medal for my countrymen and fans.”
He paused, then made a promise that leaves no room for doubt.
“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,” Nooh concluded.
Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2026
