Medical Conference

Wrestling Holds Medicine Conference; Commission Announces Key Collaboration

Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - 14:00 By United World Wrestling Press

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BUDAPEST (October 29) -- The World Wrestling Medicine Conference and Team Physician Course Program met last week in Budapest with 65 participants from 35 countries delivering a total of 22 presentations, 16 courses and one on-the-mat workshop over the program’s three days of events.

The conference was chaired and directed by Dr. Babak Shadgan and Dr. Szabolcs Molnar of the United World Wrestling (UWW) Medical and Anti-Doping Commission. 



A variety of topics were introduced across the three-days of conference presentations and team physician lectures. Prof. Dr. Nicola Maffulli focused on understanding, managing and preventing common injuries in wrestling, while Dr. Amir Pakravan tackled overuse and fatigue syndrome in wrestling; Dr. Eckart Diezemann focused on spinal injuries; and Dr. Reza Naghavi on the transmission of bloodborne illnesses. Other talks included reviews of prevention of common wrestling injuries, proper sports nutrition and updates on anti-doping regulations. 

Dr. Shadgan presented on the importance of proper referee decisions in stopping dangerous actions, and prevention of wrestling injuries. 

The conference also welcomed Kirsty Burrows (IOC consultant) and Dr. Judith Goss who brought attention to the discussion of on athlete safeguard and psychological harm in sports.



UWW 1S Referee and dentist Dr. Aviram Schmuely discussed about dental injuries and prevention in wrestling, also providing his refereeing point of view on medical issues.

When the Medical Commission met on Sunday the discussions focused on the review of the medical coverage the 2019 events, review of the recorded injuries, possibility for UWW certified team doctors to enter the FOP, the anti-doping program and the opportunity for developing Wrestling for visually impaired athletes.

The medical management of Wrestling competition was also discussed with the aim of helping doctors of local organizing committees earn proper training to take care of the medical coverage necessary for national and international tournaments. Dr. Pakravan also lead a discussion on how to properly care for an injured athlete when they are unable to leaver the mat on their own power, and Dr. Akos Santha discussed the principles of travel medications for teams.

The UWW Medical Commission also met in Budapest, announcing a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Sponsor Defense Soap.
 

Defense Soap CEO Guy Sako presented a document sharing his knowledge and experience on the prevention, education and treatment of skin infections within wrestlers. The research was then wrapped into an agreement between United World Wrestling and Defense Soap to develop an established Hygiene protocol for international wrestling to implement by the summer of 2020.

“This is a first for United World Wrestling Medical Commission to work closely with a sponsor that has extensive field knowledge and to work together to develop something positive long-term for the well-being of wrestlers worldwide,” said Shadgan. “We are excited about the effort.”

Development

Wrestling Enters a New Era in Southern Africa with Namib Storm and SADC Open Championships

Wednesday, August 13, 2025 - 13:57 By United World Wrestling Press

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WINDHOEK, Namibia — July 2025 The Namibian Wrestling Federation (NWF), in partnership with United World Wrestling (UWW) and Olympic Solidarity, launched a landmark initiative to boost wrestling development in Southern Africa: the Namib Storm Wrestling Week and SADC Open Championships, held from 30 June to 5 July 2025 at the Windhoek Showgrounds.

Speaking at the official launch in Windhoek, NWF President Colin Steytler emphasized the significance of this new chapter for the sport:

“This is where everything comes together — grassroots, elite, and development levels. It’s the most important step we’ve taken to date in bringing our strategic goals to life.”

A New Benchmark for Regional Wrestling Development

The week-long event featured two core components:

  • REDT – Namib Storm Training Camp (30 June – 3 July)
    This high-performance camp delivered Level 3 Coaching and Level 2 Refereeing Certification under the guidance of UWW instructors — a first for Namibia and a major milestone for the region.

“You can’t grow grassroots wrestling without qualified coaches,” Steytler noted.
Coaches and officials from multiple countries, including Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Mauritius, took part in intensive technical sessions.

  • SADC Open Championships (4 July)
    This tournament gathered elite athletes from Angola, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and beyond — many of whom are continental medallists. Importantly, the SADC Open became the first UWW-rated event in Southern Africa, enabling both athletes and referees to earn international exposure without needing to travel abroad.

“This changes the game,” said Steytler. “We can now compete regionally and still gain global recognition — this saves costs and boosts participation.”

NAMAttendees go through the Level 3 Coaching and Level 2 Refereeing Certification under the guidance of UWW instructors. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Beach Wrestling: Taking the Sport to New Shores

The week concluded on 5 July with a Beach Wrestling showcase, reinforcing UWW’s commitment to accessibility and outreach.

“Beach wrestling will be the only wrestling discipline featured at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal,” Steytler reminded. “And we are proud to host Namibia’s first-ever beach wrestling event in Swakopmund on 7 December 2025.”

Beach wrestling, requiring only sand and a rope, offers a practical and inclusive way to expand the sport into rural and underserved communities — a cornerstone of UWW’s vision.

Towards a Self-Sustaining Wrestling Future

The REDT initiative and Namib Storm programme are part of the NWF’s five-year strategy to develop a self-sustainable wrestling ecosystem, bridging the gap between grassroots and elite competition and aiming for future Olympic qualification and medals.

“The Namib Storm Week and SADC Open pull all of our strategic elements together,” said Steytler. “From here, we take what we’ve built back to the regions and expand wrestling further than ever before.”

This event highlights Southern Africa’s growing role in the global wrestling community and reflects UWW’s dedication to regional empowerment, education, and international competition access.