Tokyo 2020

Trio of Olympic Licenses Reassigned After Anti-Doping Rules Violations

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 19) – United World Wrestling this week confirmed that three wrestlers from the 2019 Senior Wrestling World Championships in Nur-Sultan have had their results disqualified following Anti-Doping Rules Violations.

Following Doping Controls and the results management conducted by the International Testing Agency (“ITA”) on behalf of United World Wrestling, the Anti-doping Rules Violations for the presence of prohibited substances have been established against Freestyle wrestlers Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA, 74), Badkha KHUTABA (SYR, 125), and Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB, 125), resulting in the automatic disqualification of the results, and as a consequence in their nation's Olympic licenses reassigned. Disciplinary proceedings, handled independently the ITA, are still pending to determine the sanctions on the athletes.

The new Olympic licenses have been awarded to the nations of the next highest-ranked wrestlers at 74kg (Poland) and 125kg (Iran, Kosovo). The national federations of France (74kg), Uzbekistan (125kg), and Syria (125kg) will be allowed to enter competitors at their respective Olympic qualifiers in March.

74kg – Kamil RYBICKI (POL)

1. RUS
2. ITA
3. USA
3. KAZ
5. JPN
6. POL

125kg – Egzon SHALA (KOS) + Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI)

1. GEO
2. TUR
3. UKR
3. CHN
5. KOS
6. IRI

The United World Wrestling website has updated brackets and results from the 2019 Senior Wrestling World Championships as well as the new allocations for Olympic licenses in each weight category. 

KSA Wrestling Federation hosts UWW Women’s Coaching Course

By UWW Development

20 women from different provinces of Saudi Arabia participated in the UWW Technical Course for Coaches – Introduction to Coaching and Safety from the 5th to the 9th of December 2021 in the Green Hall, Ministry of Sport, Riyadh. This course was organized by the Saudi Arabian Wrestling Federation and supported by the Leaders Development Institute.

UWW certified educator Clarissa Chun (USA) and the Olympic bronze medalist Marwa Amri (TUN) led this course.

‘I am amazed by the energy and enthusiasm these ladies have! None of the participants had any wrestling experiences prior to this course, but they learnt very fast and mastered key points in short period of time.’, stated by Clarissa Chun.

Amal Baatia, Board Member of the Saudi Arabian Wrestling Federation, and Sherif Halawa, Secretory of the NF highly praised the efforts and commitment of United World Wresting towards developing wresting worldwide. ‘We have male wrestling for many years, this is the first time any women are involved in the sport of wrestling. We have to start somewhere. ‘

‘Thanks to the Saudi wrestling federation for initiating this activity. This is an introductory course for female coaches, with the support of the federation, the ladies who attended this course will continue their path and deepen their knowledge in wrestling coaching. I’m confident that we will be having young female athletes representing Saudi soon.’ said Deqa Niamkey, UWW Development Director, ‘We need great people in the country to lead the growth of our sport.

KSA WW course

The UWW is very pleased with the implementation and participation at this course and is looking forward to support and nurture the sport of wrestling in Saudi, and the whole region, with future events and courses.