#Anti-Doping

Muslimov Banned Following Anti-Doping Violation

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (November 4) -- Wrestler Murtuzali MUSLIMOV (AZE) has been suspended for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation. 

In accordance with Article 14.3 of the United World Wrestling Anti-Doping Rules (“UWW ADR”), the UWW hereby reports that the Athlete Mr Murtuzali MUSLIMOV (AZE) has committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation under Article 2.1 of the UWW ADR – Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an Athlete’s Sample. 

More precisely, a sample collected from the Athlete on 12 July 2019 during the Yasar Dogu has revealed the Presence of the prohibited substances drostanolone metabolite and oxandrolone metabolites, listed under S.1.1 Anabolic Androgenic Steroids of the 2019 and 2020 WADA Prohibited Lists. 

The Athlete has been sanctioned as follows: 

1. Mr Murtuzali MUSLIMOV has committed a violation of Article 2.1 of the UWW ADR;

2. Mr Murtuzali MUSLIMOV is suspended for a period of Ineligibility of 4 years;

3. The period of Ineligibility starts from the date of the sample collection (12 July 2019) and shall remain in full force and effect until 11 July 2023;

4. In accordance with Articles 9 and 10.8 of the UWW ADR, all the competitive results of the Athlete from 12 July 2019 until the imposition of the provisional suspension (22 August 2019) are disqualified with all the resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.

#WrestleIstanbul

Spencer Lee one step closer to Olympic dream

By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL, Turkiye (May 3) -- The world will finally see the return of Spencer LEE (USA) on a big stage. The one-time phenom is coming to Istanbul in a bid to qualify the United States for the Paris Olympics at 57kg.

Lee is a former U17 and U20 world champion and was primed to be the next superstar from the U.S. However, he could never get going at the international stage and only participated in an international tournament in 2024, eight years after his U20 world title. At the Pan-Am Championships this year, Lee won the gold medal at 57kg.

Despite his three NCAA titles and a college record a few can dream of, Lee hasn't returned to the international scene partly due to injuries and partly due to his college commitments. After two surgeries, battles with health, a heartbreaking loss in NCAAs, a long return and wins over former Iowa teammate Thomas GILMAN (USA) at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Lee is finally here.

"I’ve had such a tough time trying to stay healthy and trying to compete to the best of my ability,” Lee said after winning the trials. "I’m still not healthy but I’m healthy enough to wrestle hard against really, really good opponent.”

That's what he will have to do in Istanbul. In the 57kg bracket, Lee will be unseeded and can be drawn against any of the big names in the first round. Tokyo Olympian Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), former U23 world champion AMAN (IND), world silver medalist Alireza SARLAK (IRI) and local star Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR) are a few names he will have to keep an eye on.

The field also includes world bronze medalists Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) and Horst LEHR (GER) along with former European champion Vladimir EGOROV (MGL), Asian Games silver medalist Chong Song HAN (PRK) and Andrii YATSENKO (UKR).

If his opponents need a form check, Lee won four bouts at the trials, outscoring his opponents 35-11 with wins over Tokyo bronze medalist Gilman and Zane RICHARDS (USA). And his attacks are solid as ever as Gilman found out in the best-of-three series.

Three wrestlers in each Olympic weight class will receive Paris 2024 quotas in Istanbul, two being the winners of the semifinals and the third will be decided with a playoff between the two bronze medal winners. Lee would hope to secure it as the winner of the semifinal and avoid going, if fortunate, through repechage.

Apart from qualifying the U.S. in Istanbul, there is extra motivation for Lee to win in Istanbul. Lee's mother, Carry, is from France where she met Lee's father, Larry, both judokas. And, he can become the first Olympic champion for the U.S. in the lowest weight class since 2008.

Lee is aware that the road to Paris is still 'long and hard'. But the 25-year-old is ready.

"I have work to do."