Winner of the Olympics from Dagestan will return his medal as a sign of protest against removal of wrestling from the program of the Games

Today Sagid Murtazaliev, Champion of the Olympics in Sydney, Deputy of National Assembly of Dagestan, manager of the Department of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation in the republic, declared his intention to return his gold medal to the International Olympic Committee as a sign of protest against removal of wrestling from the Olympic program.

On February, 12, Executive department of the International Olympic Committee confirmed 25 main kinds of sport to be included in the program of summer Olympic Games of 2020. The Executive department of MOC reckoned wrestling among non-Olympic kinds of sport. The final decision on which kinds of sport out of those on the list will be included in the Olympic program of 2020 will be taken at a session of MOC planned in September.

“By their recommendations to remove wrestling from the program of the Games the members of MOC humble the significance of the Olympic medal won in wrestling events, dispute the rich history of development of our sport originating from the ancient times”, the athlete’s letter addressed to President of International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge posted on the web-site “Wrestling in Dagestan” runs.

In his letter the athlete pointed out that for many guys from Dagestan, especially those living in rural backblocks, wrestling is the only accessible kind of sport which helps them to become stronger in body and spirit, find their life goal dreaming of Olympic victories”.