sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijin … &type=lgns
He deserved it. And also it was right of the officials not to give his medal to another because he did win it. Just disqualified by ungentlemanly behavior.
Hot blooded!
Check it & see!
How do you say “an attitude of gratitude” in Swedish?
Tommy, it’s not right for you to keep criticizing this guy when I’m fairly certain you didn’t watch his match, so you really don’t know the facts.
Yes, it appears he was acting childishly and unsportmanly. Yes, I agree that sportsmanship is extremely important (not only do I think US coaches who yell at basketball or baseball officials are jerks, but I think fights in hockey games are a sign of being a looooser). But, wrestling is an extremely difficult sport and the Olympics only come around every 4 years.
IF it is true that he was really deprived of a Gold that he worked his ass for and rightfully earned, and the judges’ decision truly was either completely, blatantly, unquestionably wrong, or worse – corrupt (which I/we don’t know), I can understand how his frustration might get the better of him.
And, maybe there is some truth to that.
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/o … l/?cnn=yes
[quote]You are judging a mans who has devoted most of his life to his sport, at a moment when he has been robbed of his chance to reach his goal by what appeared to him, and most others with knowledge of the facts, as deliberate cheating by the referee and high FILA officials. . .
Considering that this type of cheating is endemic to wrestling (and Italian sport I’m afraid, just look at the big Juventus scandal a few years ago), and that a first attempt to protest formally was unsuccesful because the officials did not even bother to file it, they just threw it away, he decided to protest during the award ceremony. At least it put some heat on the FILA officials, and no other type of protest would have been likely to accomplish this. And anyone with a love for the sport of wrestling has a duty to put the heat on the current crop of FILA officials. He did so, knowing the risks involved, and willing to take them. Brave man ![/quote]
cbc.ca/olympics/wrestling/st … ntrum.html
[quote]Swedish fans booed loudly as the judges filed out of the arena. . . The International Olympic Committee said it was investigating the dispute with the wrestling federation FILA, which Abrahamian said “does not play fair”.
“We are in contact with the wrestling federation to establish the exact facts,” IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said[/quote]
uk.reuters.com/article/sportsNew … 14?sp=true
[quote]Corruption on the Olympic wrestling stage?
Some in the sport say it’s one of the shadiest, too. Backroom politicking, bribery, corruption, outlandish officiating, even threats of violence are routinely alleged [/quote]
au.messages.yahoo.com/news/top-stories/1221618/
[quote]Ara Abrahamian was during the semi final wrestling match (against Andrea Minguzzi, Italy) very questionable judged and disqualified for being outside the ring at times, something Swedish Olympic Comitee protested against, but the protest was denied and the judges call was not even reviewed on video, something that is stated in the rules that it should. . .
Pelle Svensson, former member of the board of FILA (International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles) of 16 years, now comes forward defending the actions of Ara Abrahamian and reveals the corruption that infests wrestling. Pelle Svensson speaks of death threats and bribed judges as common practise and experienced first hand in the Olympic games in Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004), he informed FILA but they do nothing. He tried to change rules but FILA denied his suggestions, and Pelle left the organisation[/quote]
blog.silverstone.nu/2008/08/14/c … wrestling/
So, I agree his reaction was probably unjustified, was probably poor sportsmanship, but without viewing a video of his match, the controversial decision, how the ref and judges handled it, and how he responded, I definitely wouldn’t feel qualified to pass judgment on him.
Yes I feel for him. Especially in view that a similar thing happened in the last olympics when he won silver and thought he was cheated out of a gold.
But to argue on the mat with the judges and to do what he did at the award ceremony and to slam the door and to punch a wall ? Notice he had to be restrained on the mat. What was he going to do? PUnch out the judges?
There is no excuse for that sort of behavior.
He has avenues of redress later where he can ask for a re-assessment of the situation.
The last guy who put his medal on the floor got banned for life from his sport.
Its a harsh sentence.
But even though I feel for the guy and I feel that olympic judging is not 1000 percent fair to all.
I feel his actions on the mat were entirely inappropriate.
The olympics committee statement on this matter was very appropriate and not with any malice in my view.
And it was kind and correct that his medal was not awarded to another.
This showed some respect to him as an individual. Even though the IOC had every right to award his medal to another because of his disqualification.
heres the statement from the IOC
olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_ … sp?id=2737
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
IOC EXECUTIVE BOARD
DECISION
REGARDING MR ARA ABRAHAMIAN
BORN ON 27 JULY 1975, ATHLETE, SWEDEN
WRESTLING, MEN’S GRECO-ROMAN, 84KG
UPON CONSIDERING the attached Recommendations of the IOC Disciplinary
Commission dated 15 August 2008 and pursuant to the Olympic Charter Fundamental
Principles of Olympism and Rules 41 and 51.3:
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
DECIDES
I The athlete Mr Ara Abrahamian, Sweden:
(i) is disqualified from the event of men’s Greco-Roman wrestling, 84 kg
(ii) is excluded from the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008;
(iii) shall have his Olympic identity and accreditation card immediately
cancelled and withdrawn;
II The International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) is requested:
- to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly, it being
understood that the athlete who placed behind Mr Abrahamian shall not be
promoted to third place, - to return the bronze medal held by FILA to the IOC;
- to consider any further action within its own competence.
III The NOC of Sweden and BOCOG is requested to ensure full implementation of
this decision.
IV. This Decision shall enter into force immediately.
Beijing, 16 August 2008
On behalf of the IOC Executive Board
Jacques ROGGE Urs LACOTTE
IOC President Director General
2
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
IOC DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION
RECOMMENDATIONS
REGARDING MR ARA ABRAHAMIAN
BORN ON 27 JULY 1975, ATHLETE, SWEDEN
WRESTLING, MEN’S GRECO-ROMAN, 84KG
(Olympic Charter Fundamental Principles of Olympism and Rules 41 and 51.3)
- Mr Ara Abrahamian (hereinafter the “Athlete”) competed in the Games of the XXIX
Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 in the sport of wrestling, men’s Greco-Roman 84kg,
where he placed third, obtaining one of the two bronze medals awarded. - On 14 August 2008, during the awards ceremony, the Athlete, upon receiving his
bronze medal, immediately stepped down from the podium prior to the presentation
of the other medals. He took off his medal, placed it on the floor a few meters away
from the podium and walked away from the ceremony. The medal is currently in the
possession of FILA. - Upon being informed by the IOC Sports Director of the incident, the IOC President,
by letter dated 14 August 2008, immediately set up a Disciplinary Commission,
consisting of:
- Thomas Bach (Chairman)
- Denis Oswald
- Sergey Bubka
The IOC President also requested that the Disciplinary Commission look into this
matter and make recommendations to the IOC Executive Board, which will take the
final decision.
- Mr Raphael Martinetti, President of the International Federation of Associated
Wrestling Styles (hereafter the “FILA”), by e-mail dated 14 August 2008 to the IOC
Olympic Games Executive Director, Mr Felli, informed the IOC that the FILA
Disciplinary Commission was proposing the following sanctions:
- “disqualification of the wrestler, Mr Abrahamian, and non-classification;
- the bronze medal to be withdrawn from him,
- the following wrestler in the ranking to be moved up so as to obtain the bronze
medal; …” (translation supplied)
- By letter dated 14 August 2008, the IOC President advised the Athlete, the Swedish
NOC and FILA of the above-mentioned incident and invited the Chef de mission of
the Swedish NOC and representatives of FILA to attend the hearing on 15 August
2008 at 09:30 hours at the Beijing Hotel. The Disciplinary Commission held its
hearing at the Beijing Hotel, IOC Executive Board Room, 18th Floor, 33 East Chang
An Avenue in Beijing on the said day and time in the presence of the Athlete, and a
delegation (hereinafter the “Delegation”) comprised of:
- Stefan Lindeberg, Chef de Mission
- Leo Myllari, Head Coach
- Bjorn Rosengren, NOC/Lawyer
3
- FILA was represented at the hearing by Michel Dusson, Secretary General.
- Also attending the hearing was:
- Howard Stupp, IOC Director of Legal Affairs
- Andre Sabbah, Legal Counsel in the IOC Department of Legal Affairs
- François Carrard, IOC Counsel
- Upon request, the Delegation confirmed that it had no objection as to the disciplinary
procedure. - The Disciplinary Commission began by viewing the tape of the incident, in front of all
persons in attendance. - The Athlete and the Delegation then submitted their explanations as to the incident
and the Athlete’s behaviour:
10.1 The Athlete stated that he had nothing against the Olympic Games or the
other athletes. The Athlete insisted that, following the Athens Games, he put
all his energy and efforts to prepare himself for what would be his final
Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, hoping to win the gold medal which he felt he
deserved. The Athlete further explained his view that during the semi-final
match at the competition in Beijing, he was prejudiced by blatant errors in
judging which caused him to lose the match which, in the opinion of many
other attendants, he had not lost. It should also be noted that, in front of the
Disciplinary Commission, the Athlete expressed serious unsubstantiated
allegations against FILA and its President.
10.2 Although the Delegation considered the behaviour of the Athlete as not
acceptable, it explained that the Athlete’s actions should not be characterized
as any form of disrespect towards the Olympic Games, or fellow athletes. The
Athlete congratulated his fellow competitors. The Athlete’s gesture was not
directed at the IOC or the Olympic Movement. It should be understood as an
expression of his disapproval of judging errors as well as a demonstration
against FILA’s regulations and the manner in which they are applied. The
Athlete had already undergone serious problems with judging errors at the
2004 Athens Olympic Games, pointing out that he “lost the gold medal” rather
than “won the silver medal” (translation supplied). The Delegation had
emphasized the fact that its various attempts to ask for a video review during
the semi-final match were denied by the judges and that this was not in
conformity with fair play and the Olympic Movement. The Delegation stressed
that the above-noted background did not excuse the behaviour of the Athlete
but was fundamental to understanding his gesture. The Delegation further
stated that it had sent a protest letter to FILA which FILA did not answer. The
Delegation ended its presentation by advising that it had already reprimanded
the Athlete and that a warning by the IOC would be an appropriate measure. - The Secretary General of FILA, Michel Dusson, reiterated and confirmed FILA’s
position as stated in its 14 August 2008 e-mail to the IOC and emphasized the fact
that, in the sport of wrestling, protests after a match were not accepted. This was a
decision taken by the FILA Congress in 2000. - The Disciplinary Commission took into consideration the emotion and frustration felt
by an athlete confronted with judging decisions that he considers as entirely wrong.
4
Such a situation may occur more frequently in sports in which the results are based
on judging. Such feelings can be aggravated when, as in this case, no protests can
be lodged. However, such a situation cannot justify in any way the Athlete’s
behaviour consisting of taking off his medal, placing it on the floor and leaving his
fellow athletes and the awards ceremony before its conclusion. The awards
ceremony is a highly symbolic ritual, acknowledged as such by all athletes and other
participants. Any disruption by any athlete, in particular a medalist, is in itself an
insult to the other athletes and to the Olympic Movement. It is also contrary to the
spirit of fair play. The fact that, in this case, the Athlete’s gesture was carried out in
a calm manner does not diminish in any way the severity of the offence. Such
gesture was premeditated and took place well after the disputed match. This
constitutes an obvious violation of paragraph 4 of the Fundamental Principles of
Olympism as stated in the Olympic Charter. It may also be characterized as a
violation of Rule 41 of the Olympic Charter concerning respecting the spirit of fair
play and Rule 51.3, which prohibits any kind of demonstration in any Olympic site or
venue. - It should be noted that, in front of the Disciplinary Commission, the Athlete never
expressed any regret, nor did he offer any apology for his actions. - The Disciplinary Commission unanimously considers that, notwithstanding the
emotional circumstances of the case, a warning is not an appropriate measure and
that, on the contrary, the seriousness of the offence committed requires that the
Athlete be disqualified, that his bronze medal be returned to the IOC and that he be
excluded from the Games. On the other hand, the Disciplinary Commission
emphasizes the fact that the sanction is not directly linked to facts which took place
during the competition itself but during an awards ceremony. Thus, it would not be
justified to award a bronze medal to the wrestler who placed behind the Athlete.
CONSIDERING the above, pursuant to the Olympic Charter Fundamental Principles of
Olympism and Rules 41 and 51.3
THE DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS TO THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
I The athlete Mr Ara Abrahamian, Sweden:
(iv) be disqualified from the event of men’s Greco-Roman wrestling, 84 kg
(v) be excluded from the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008;
(vi) shall have his Olympic identity and accreditation card immediately
cancelled and withdrawn;
II The International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) be requested:
5
- to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly, it being
understood that the athlete who placed behind Mr Abrahamian shall not be
promoted to third place, - to return the bronze medal held by FILA to the IOC;
- to consider any further action within its own competence.
III The NOC of Sweden and BOCOG be requested to ensure full implementation of
this decision.
Beijing, 15 August 2008
The IOC Disciplinary Commission
Thomas BACH
Chairman
Denis OSWALD Sergey BUBKA