Swedish wrestler stripped of bronze for throwing medal

Sunday 17th August, 06:46 AM JST

BEIJING —

A Swedish wrestler was disqualified and stripped of his bronze medal Saturday for dropping the prize in protest after a disputed loss at the Beijing Olympics.

Ara Abrahamian was punished by the International Olympic Committee for violating the spirit of fair play during the medal ceremony, becoming the fourth athlete kicked out of the games and bringing the number of medals removed to three.

Abrahamian became incensed when a disputed penalty call decided his semifinal match against Italian Andrea Minguzzi, who went on to win the gold medal in the Greco-Roman 84-kilogram division Thursday.

During the medal ceremony, the Armenian-born Abrahamian—who also lost a 2004 Olympic semifinal match on a disputed call—took the bronze from around his neck and, angrily, dropped it on the mat as he walked away. He did not take part in the rest of the medal ceremony.

The IOC executive board ruled Abrahamian’s actions amounted to a political demonstration and a mark of disrespect to his fellow athletes.

“It was felt that his behavior on the medal podium and during the medal ceremony was not appropriate,” IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said. “His behavior was not in the Olympic spirit of respect for his fellow athletes. Whatever grievances you may have, this was not the way to go about it.”

The IOC said no athlete will receive Abrahamian’s medal because his disqualification was not connected to the competition itself, meaning there will be only one bronze medalist, Nazmi Avluca of Turkey. Normally, there are two at each weight class.

The 28-year-old Abrahamian had to be restrained from going after matside officials following his loss to Minguzzi. He stormed away from the area where interviews are conducted and slammed a door to the dressing rooms so hard it shook an entire wall. He weighed whether to skip the bronze medal match, only to have friends talk him into competing.

The IOC said Abrahamian violated two rules of the Olympic charter, one of which bans any sort of demonstrations and another which demands respect for all Olympic athletes.

“The awards ceremony is a highly symbolic ritual, acknowledged as such by all athletes and other participants,” the IOC said. “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.”

Abrahamian never expressed regret or offered an apology, the IOC said. The international wrestling federation was asked to consider any further sanctions against the two-time world champion.

His medal was the third stripped at the Beijing Games so far.

On Friday, North Korean shooter Kim Jong Su had his silver and bronze medals taken away after failing a doping test. Also expelled for doping violations have been Spanish cyclist Maria Isabel Moreno and Vietnamese gymnast Thi Ngan Thuong Do.

Abrahamian’s case is not the first of its kind.

A weightlifter at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics was stripped of his bronze medal after rejecting it during the medal ceremony. Ibragim Samadov, competing in the light heavyweight category for the Unified Team of the former Soviet Union, was upset with his performance and refused to have the medal placed around his neck and only accepted it in his hand. He then put it down and walked off.

Samadov later apologized, but the IOC decision upheld its decision to disqualify him. He later was banned for life by the sport’s governing body.

Wire reports

Latest 15 of 26 Total Comments Show All

cleo at 12:55 PM JST - 17th August

It is not good to see at all. If he didn't want the medal he should not have stepped onto the podium to accept it. Maybe he does have a legitimate gripe with the judging, but throwing a tantrum is not the way to deal with it.
Naruki_Oni at 01:09 PM JST - 17th August

I am upset because I was told Olympics are all wonderful and idyllic, and this is a ripple. Why isn't the world perfect?

Fortunately, the reporters are telling me it's okay to blame the loser, so I can stop thinking about it. Thinking hurts my brain. Blaming one person [who cannot make the reporters give his side of the story] requires no thinking.

I like no brainers!

~Typical Viewer
presto345 at 01:21 PM JST - 17th August

It's the way he showed his discontent. By attending the ceremony, by stepping onto the podium, by not refusing to accept beforehand he was accepting the honor. 'Stripped' is the accurate description. But probably he and some commenting here still don't get it.
Pukey2 at 01:28 PM JST - 17th August

dr jones:

Btw does somebody else think that all the Chinese attendants standing around look and act like robots?

Yes, a very big 'btw'. Here we are, all talking about the Swedish wrestler, and you (surprise surprise) have to include an anti-Chinese rant. You get these smiles in the Japanese service sector everywhere, but I wonder why your rant doesn't extend to other countries. Would you rather they look bored or sad? Always looking for excuses to bash anything Chinese. Sure, why don't you blame the Chinese for the Swede's loss too.

Now, back to topic. Why was there an Italian judge in the first place? Can't they change the judges now and again, making sure that a judge of the same nationality as a participant is not allowed to vote? They seem to do this in a few other sports too.
presto345 at 01:35 PM JST - 17th August

I think I have to go with Pukey2 for once on this one. The continuing unpleasant comments re the Olympic hosts are a little over the top. The selection of judges is a different sensitive matter. Impartiality is difficult to guarantee if it concerns one's own nationality.
FrEcKlEfAcE at 01:36 PM JST - 17th August

USTony, You have a list of the many bias calls & many bias judges? I would like to see that.
dr_jones at 01:42 PM JST - 17th August

Pukey2:

"Sure, why don't you blame the Chinese for the Swede's loss too."

But isn't that clear already??!
Bovinus at 02:07 PM JST - 17th August

I think it's good to protest what is basically corruption in judges.

He was stripped of the medal for insulting other athletes and the IOC. I don't see how he insulted any athletes but he certainly insulted the IOC. But the IOC is a private business, why should it be free from insults? We'll be getting jailed for pointing out that Pepsi and Coke taste the same next. (I know, I know, feel free to rip that analogy apart).
ExPrinceska at 03:34 PM JST - 17th August

I think he was right to protest. Many such case in sports where judges decide: boxing, wrestling, gymnastics.
Smythe at 03:42 PM JST - 17th August

I heard about this several days ago. Went all over the newspapers & such, but this incident was only mentioned on JT.

As ex-amateur wrestler in both Free-Style & Greco-Roman I can see why an Italian possibly filled in as one of the Judges (even judges need a break or feel a more experienced judge should fill their place) & yes even they can be wrong.

The attude of the wrestler should be more sensible, but then possibly he was is a rotten mood over the refree &/or judges. Believe me they can be way out of line. I know for I won many events to work my way up to win in my wt catagory of the Western Cdn Championship. At times, in those yrs, I did not get along like charm with all judges to referees. Same when I was Certified Amateur Wrestling Instructor in both Alberta & B.C.

Mind you those yrs of being in the amateur wrestling world-----well it was strange with ups & downs. Though I simply accepted it as is & never did have a dispute. It might have been inside of me for a few minutes, but I never let it out in expression or you name it.

To win in tournaments is tough on the competitors, the referees, to the judges. So this chap simply dropped his Bronze & that is as far as he went.
fatloser at 08:37 PM JST - 17th August

The same thing happened to him in the 2004 Olympics. Ya can read about it here!! http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/08/16/bc.as.oly.wre.medalstri.ap/index.html This is a sad story about a man who devoted his life to a sport he loves and wasn't given a fair chance.
888naff at 08:39 PM JST - 17th August

I've seen alot of dodgy questionable refereeing at the china Olympics and that's just in the judo or football if sticking to a Japan related tone.

I don't think this guy is too worried about being "stripped" of the bronze, as he already said he didn't care for it when he threw the medal away and had to be force to stand on the podium in the first place. I think he thinks there more important competitions to win or at east some which come with more weight and are not so fake. ... but isn't that the moto the Chinese olympics... fake... its ok.
ExPrinceska at 09:29 PM JST - 17th August

This is a man that I really respect. He fights for his rights and for justice.
seansezso at 09:36 PM JST - 17th August

For all those who think this man's protest was inappropriate, I have to ask, what would you like?

Immediately after the match, his behaviour was confrontational, but no real violence occurred. I find it debatable, but forgive him as it was after a violent contest, and especially if he truly was ripped off.

At the ceremony though? Totally peaceful and tasteful protest there (despite the outrageous headline for which JT should be utterly ashamed. Did they mean "throw away"???) This is the only way the guy can protest and get any attention to that protest. Filing papers in the backroom won't do anything. I am always happy to see people stand up and refuse to be a chump for authority, especially if they do it peacefully. Even if he is wrong about the call, he has done nothing wrong. NEVER give up your or another's right to protest, or be labeled a complete fool.

And the judges and many at the IOC are regular drama queens. The guy can't be stripped of a medal he disposed of himself. The term is that the medal was rejected or refused. Its not rocket science. His peaceful protest insulted none but the judges and the IOC, and their trying to extend the insult to others is another mark of a drama queen. And if he is banned for his protest, that is also the work of a drama queen who can't take criticism.

Great comments by flammenwerfer and Naruki Oni. This guy has my support. The IOC needs to buck up and find the testicular fortitude to take criticism and tolerate peaceful protests.
Kyokochan at 05:05 AM JST - 18th August

****Neither the judges nor anyone else's always right. We all know that the Swedes'll just Ara a Swedish bronze medal made out of Swedish bronze. THey'll just nullify the I.O.C.s decision, The I.O.C. doesn't run the Swedish government. Like all nations, Sweden does as Sweden wishes. They can also ban Ibragim frm the Olympic games for life, but they can't stop the Unified Team from staging their own Olympics & refusing to recognize the I.O.C.. I recognize the need for rules but the I.O.C. can't control the nations of the world. In the eyes of Sweden, Ara is the winner & always will be. It would be nice if everybody in the world could act civilized & get along together like true Hippies should. But, people feel strongly about certain things. Its like religion. Arabs say that "there is one god & Allah is his name". I say that "there's one God & he doesn't need a name". Neither one of us will ever agree on this point. But, that's life. Hopefully the games that're intended to bring the world closer together'll never lead down the path to war.