Sport Paris 2024
Russian Olympic champion excluded from qualifying tournament
As of: 3:32 p.m. | Reading time: 2 minutes
Also became world champion in 2021: Abdulrashid Sadulayev from Russia
Source: dpa/Berit Roald
The World Wrestling Federation did not admit two-time Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulayev to the qualifying tournament in Baku for political reasons. Russia then announced that it would subsequently enforce the approval.
Top Russian wrestler and two-time Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulayev is not allowed to take part in the European qualifying tournament for the upcoming Summer Games in Paris. The World Wrestling Federation UWW announced this on Thursday. An external committee made this decision based on the criteria set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the eligibility of neutral athletes to compete, it said.
According to the statement, new information has been found regarding support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Sadulayev is also still a member of Dynamo Moscow. The club is traditionally considered to be close to the Russian secret service.
also read
Wrestlers from Russia and Belarus are currently only allowed to take part in international competitions under a neutral flag. The European Olympic qualifying tournament in Baku takes place from Friday to Sunday. Sadulajew, Olympic champion in 2016 and 2021, would have gone to the mat as the favorite in the weight class up to 97 kilograms freestyle.
17 Germans are fighting for qualification
The president of the Russian Wrestling Federation, Mikhail Mamiashvili, announced that he would speak to the UWW on Thursday to get Sadulayev approved. This was reported by the state news agency Ria Novosti. Mamiashvili is himself one of several vice presidents of the world association.
also read
“Of course we are working to ensure that all restrictions against Sadulayev are lifted and that he can prepare for the Olympic Games,” said Russian national wrestling coach Khadzhimurat Gazalov.
also read
A 17-member German team is also registered for the tournament in Azerbaijan’s capital. The last chance to fight for a ticket to the Olympics in Paris is at the global elimination tournament in Istanbul in mid-May. So far only Luisa Niemesch from Germany has qualified in the class up to 62 kilograms.
