Anti-Doping, Iran, wrestling, WADA

Iran Wrestling Federation Hosts Anti-Doping Workshop

By Tim Foley

TEHRAN (February 6) – The Iran Wrestling Federation recently held an informational course on anti-doping for members of the nation’s Greco-Roman and freestyle national teams.

The workshop, which was focused on junior and senior freestyle and Greco-Roman, was led by United World Wrestling medical commission chair Babak SHADGAN (CAN) and was held at the National Federation Camp in Khane-ye-Koshti (Wrestling House) in Tehran.

Dr. Shadgan covered doping control procedures, rule violations, dangers, prevention of accidental doping attempts, out of competition sampling, whereabouts information, and the seriousness with which United World Wrestling is fighting against doping in the sport of wrestling.

Shadgan, a WADA Foundation Board member (2003-2005), a WADA Independent Observer (2005-2011) explained that that the main factor behind doping rules violation is lack of doping control knowledge in athletes, in particular in wrestling.

“Lack of knowledge has been the main causes and we should take it seriously and fill this gap by promoting our anti-doping education programs,’ said Shadgan. “The national coaches and medical team are very serious and concerned about doping and really wanted their athletes to stay away from any risk, which was great.”

United World Wrestling president Nenad LALOVIC applauded the efforts of the Iran Wrestling Federation and Dr. Shadgan to inform athletes of the risks associated with doping.

“We applaud the efforts of all our national federations and members of the medical commission to inform our young wrestlers,” said Lalovic. “We must stay vigilant and always do our best to keep young, and old, wrestlers current with anti-doping regulations.”
 

#WrestleBelgrade

Orta, Jafarov set showdown at World Championships

By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 23) -- Tokyo Olympic champion at 60kg Luis ORTA (CUB) will be back in Paris, although in a new weight class, made it to his first-ever World Championships final on Saturday.

Orta moved up to the 67kg weight class at the start of the year and delivered results instantly, winning the Pan-Am gold and bronze medals at the Ranking Series events.

In Belgrade, Orta was slated to face world champion Mate NEMES (SRB) in the quarterfinals and after securing a hard-fought win over the local wrestler. Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) tried stopping him in the semifinals but Orta scored three takedowns in his 9-1 win over the Kyrgyz wrestler.

By reaching the final, Orta confirmed a spot for Cuba at the Paris Olympics next year.

But to be a world champion, Orta will have to beat the returning bronze medalist and a young star of the sport Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE).

The 20-year-old former U20 and U23 world champion reached the final after beating three top wrestlers in three straight bouts. He first took out European silver medalist Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) before beating Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI), 10-0, in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Jafarov was made to work hard by Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) for his 5-3 win. Jafarov scored a turn from par terre to lead 3-0. Jafarov was awarded a second passivity in the second period to change the score to 4-0 but he failed to score any points.

Galstyan scored a takedown in the second period and cut Jafarov's lead to 4-2 and got a stepout in the final second to make it 4-3. Armenia's challenge for fleeing could not be confirmed on review, adding a point to Jafarov's score.

At 87kg, David LOSONCIZ (HUN) showed why he is the most dynamic wrestler of the weight class, mauling his opponents in the run to the final. After winning his first two bouts via technical superiority, he defeated Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) 6-1 in the final before a brutal rolling of Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) in the semifinals.

He will face European silver medalist and returning bronze Ali CENGIZ (TUR) for the gold who scored a come-from-behind victory over Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) in the other semifinal. 

Cengiz had earlier beaten Olympic champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) 3-1 in the 1/8 finals before winning 3-3 against Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) who was a silver medalist at 82kg last year.

In the non-Olympic weight class, two-time world silver medalist Leri ABULADZE (GEO) will try to win a gold medal as he reached the final for the third straight year. Abuladze defeated Stefan CLEMENT (FRA) 3-1 in the semifinals.

For the gold, Abuladze will have a rematch of the 2022 European Championships final as Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) reached the final after beating Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) from the other side of the bracket. Abuladze won the gold at Euros 3-1.