FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 6, 2012 file photo Amer Hrustanovic of Austria competes against Damian Janikowski of Poland, in blue, during the 84-kg Greco-Roman wrestling competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, in London. An official familiar with the decision says IOC leaders have dropped wrestling from the program for the 2020 Olympics. In a surprise decision Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013, the official tells The Associated Press that the IOC executive board decided to retain modern pentathlon and remove wrestling instead. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Russian wrestler to return his Olympic gold
Published: 08:52:36 AM, Wed 27 February 2013 UTC
MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian wrestler says he is returning his Olympic gold medal in protest against the International Olympic Committee's decision to drop his sport from the Olympic program.
Sagid Murtazaliyev told Russian television late Tuesday that it was a "tough decision" to make but he hopes it might move Olympic officials to see "common sense."
The IOC executive board voted earlier this month to drop wrestling from the 2020 Games, but the final decision will be made at the body's assembly in September at Argentina.
Murtazaliyev, 38, who won gold in the 97-kilogram freestyle class at the 2000 Sydney Games, has followed the example of Bulgarian wrestler Valentin Yordanov who last week who said he'd be handing his medal back to the IOC in protest.
Tags:
international olympic committee, athens, avery brundage, olympic, 2008 summer olympics, summer olympic games, olympic games, sports, olympic gold, gold medal, ioc executive board, winter olympic games, protest, final decision, olympic gold medal, olympic officials, common sense, olympic program, tough decision, sydney games, russian television, bulgarian wrestler valentin, russian wrestler, 97-kilogram freestyle class, sagid murtazaliyev
