Iranian wrestler Alireza Karimi has been handed a six months ban for deliberately losing a bout to avoid facing an opponent from Zionist regime. United World Wrestling (UWW) has confirmed the sanction and also handed a two year penalty to his coach Hamidreza Jamshidi. An investigation was launched in December after it was alleged that Karimi […]
Iranian wrestler Alireza Karimi has been handed a six months ban for deliberately losing a bout to avoid facing an opponent from Zionist regime.
United World Wrestling (UWW) has confirmed the sanction and also handed a two year penalty to his coach Hamidreza Jamshidi.
An investigation was launched in December after it was alleged that Karimi had lost the quarter final of his under-86 kilograms freestyle contest at the 2017 Under-23 World Championships in Bydgoszcz on purpose.
He lost to his Russian rival Alikhan Zhabrayilov, who went on to win the gold medal in the Polish city, 14-3 on November 23.
It has been ruled that Jamshidi instructed his wrestler, a two-time Asian champion and a Senior World Championship bronze medalist, to lose.
“The chamber found that Karimi, on instruction of his coach Jamshidi, willfully lost his quarter finals match against Alikhan Zhabrayilov. Both wrestler and coach were found to have acted in direct violation of the International Wrestling Rules and the UWW Disciplinary Regulations,” a UWW statement said.
Iran and Israel do not have diplomatic relations with the countries seen as bitter enemies.
