The Dark Side Of Wrestling

[Shiruba]

Translation of some interesting parts of this article from Swedens biggest newspaper: http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/os2008/article3102369.ab

Swedish Tokyo 1964 silver medalist and two time world cup gold medalist who was in FILA for 16 years, Pelle Svensson (also has a career as a lawyer), has been quiet about this but talks today after what happened Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian in the semifinals:

Pelle was sitting in the audience with the king and queen of Sweden in Athens 2004 during Ara's final match.
He explained to the king how the rules worked and the king asked him: "Who is that man in the pink shirt?"
Pelle said it was the Russian leader (of the wrestler) and asked the king why he asked.
The king said "because he acts like a ref and is always making signs to one of the refs." It was the side/edge ref (I don't know what they're called).
Svensson who was FILA chairman of the disciplinary committee at the time left the audience and went to the Russian leader and explained that he wasn't allowed to make signs to the ref.
Svensson grabbed him and the Russian turned to him and said: "You should know that this could lead to your death".
The Russian leader, whose name is Mikhail Mamiachvili, is in FILA today.

Svensson then found proof that the ref in the match was bribed. The bribe was in the million department (Swedish currency I think). The ref was a poor man from Romania. The witness is a trainer who wants to remain anonymous.

Svensson quit FILA after his suggestion that the Wrestlers should do a draw before the match to decide the ref was rejected.

[heckyl]

wow thats pretty crazy shit. straight threatened his life.

[seese]

Yeah, and this year Ara lost in the semifinals due to a technicality after the round was over and after he had already won the round (the point he got was reversed after the round had ended).

Ara then won the bronzemedal and after he had received it on the podium - he threw it on the mat and left the ceremony.

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[El Presidente]

Ah well. Wrestling is fake anyway. :p

[Hinch]

FILA are corrupt bastards.

It's sad that if submiussion grappling (otr "wrestling") made it to the Olympics, it'd be under the FILA umbrella. No doubt with all the good subs taken out.

The swede's been screwed out of two gold medals. He should have pissed on the bronze too.

[seese]

I just wanted to update on this matter. According to Swedish newspaper "SvD" (Svenska Dagbladet) - The IOC have banned Ara Abrahamian for life. Though if the video-footage from the match will show that he was falsely judged he might get the bronzemedal back.

[tiefling]

So those this mean his win won't stand? Fine if he doesn't want the medal don't force him, but scratching his win because of it sounds crazy.

[seese]

Yeah, it´s bullshit. They salute and gladly hand a goldmedal to a previously banned athlete in walk. And he is not the only one previously convicted of doping.

[miscmisc]

Wrestling as an Olympic sport is dying. The number of participants in the sport has been steadily declining over the years, while other "new" martial arts like TKD and medium-old ones like Judo have been going upwards. IOC even proposed to axe Greco-Roman entirely. It seems to be staying for now, but there is no bright future for wrestling for sure.

And it has a LOT to do with FILA. I don't know if that story is true, but you simply can't trust those people.

[seese]

I think that there actually is a debate now in Sweden whether we should withdraw from FILA or not. In reality that will probably not happen but the implications of such a radical act is nevertheless very interesting to discuss.