Advertisement

Abrahamian wrestles with IOC over medal tantrum

AFP/The Local
AFP/The Local - [email protected]
Abrahamian wrestles with IOC over medal tantrum

Sweden's Greco-Roman wrestling star Ara Abrahamian is to face disciplinary action for leaving the podium in the middle of Thursday's presentation ceremony and throwing away his bronze medal.

Advertisement

The Swede, who won silver in the Athens Olympics four years ago, grudgingly climbed the podium after finishing third in the 84kg class on Thursday.

But he left the medal at the centre of the competition mat before stalking off the stage with a raised clenched right fist.

Abrahamian thought he had beaten Andrea Minguzzi, the eventual gold medallist, in the semi-finals, but the match was awarded to the Italian.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokeswoman Giselle Davies told reporters in Beijing on Friday that "disciplinary procedures had commenced" against the wrestler.

The Swede came back strongly in the repechages to claim one of the two bronzes alongside Nazmi Avluca of Turkey.

The medal was later returned to the sport's governing body.

"My semi-final round loss today was totally unjustified. The controversial ruling shows that FILA (the sport's governing body International Amateur Wrestling Federation) does not play fair," the Swede claimed.

Minguzzi said the Swede should not rain on his victory parade, adding: "In sports I think it is appropriate to show sportsmanship and respect the result."

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also