Anti-Doping

Belt Wrestlers Fail Anti-Doping Test at Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (August 30) – United World Wrestling has suspended traditional belt wrestlers Rejepaly Orazalyyev (TKM) and Dinara Hallyyeva (TKM) following violations of the organization’s anti-doping policy during the 5th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games 2017 in Ashgabat.

United World Wrestling issued the tests on September 16 and 21 respectively and had them processed through a WADA-accredited laboratory in Doha.

Orazalyyev’s test indicated the presence of Oxandrolone, which is classified under class S1.1a (Exogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids) and is prohibited at all times (in and out-of-competition). According to UWW’s records, no Therapeutic Use Exemption was delivered by UWW to justify the presence of Oxandrolone in the wrestler’s system. 

Hallyyeva’s test indicated the presence of Meldonium, which is classified under class S4 (Hormone and Metabolite Modulators) of the 2017 Prohibited List and is prohibited at all times (in and out-of-competition). According to UWW’s records, no Therapeutic Use Exemption was delivered by UWW to justify the presence of Meldonium in the wrestler’s system. 

A suspension of four years was imposed on Orazalyyev and will run from  February 7, 2018 until February 6, 2022

A suspension of four years was imposed on Hallyyeva and will run from February 9, 2018 until 6 February 8, 2022

 

#CanadaWrestling

Former world champion Di Stasio of Canada retires

By United World Wrestling Press

OTTAWA, Canada (March 13) -- After nearly 15 years of representing Canada, Justina DI STASIO (CAN) has decided to retire.

During her career, Di Stasio built an impressive resume that will go down as one of the all-time greats in Canadian wrestling history. The 32-year-old represented Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Di Stasio won gold medal at the World Championship in 2018, a Pan-American Games gold medal in 2019 and Commonwealth Games gold in 2022. In addition, she is a multiple-time Pan-Am Championships gold medalist.

While there have been many memorable moments, a few stood out to Di Stasio, including her start with the national team, her win at the 2018 worlds, being coached on the national team by two-time Olympic medalist Tonya VERBEEK (CAN), and making her first Olympics in 2024.

“Winning worlds was a special moment, especially because I could hear my parents cheering from the stands," Di Stasio said. "It reminded me of my tournaments as a kid. It also helped me frame everything in my life better. I realized it is about the journey and not the destination. It was amazing to feel the way I did on that one day, but it was only one day. I had worked so hard in the lead up, but I realized I had to enjoy those days too. I still wanted to be the best in the world and I never didn’t train like it, but from that point, I made sure to enjoy my wrestling every day.”

That love for the sport kept Di Stasio going despite setbacks that stalled her dream of competing at the Olympics. After failing to qualify for the Rio and Tokyo Games, Di Stasio qualified for Paris 2024, eventually finishing 12th.

“Making it to the Olympics came with lots of pressure, but good pressure. I had won everything else and trained every day thinking I could be an Olympic champion. Even though it was a heart-breaking result, I know I couldn’t have worked harder and that helped me accept the result. I would have loved to make it there when I was younger, but I think I needed to be more mature to handle the result.”

Read full news on Wrestling Canada Lutte website.