Wrestling

13:52 | 14.01.2014 | Viewed []

Luka Kurtanidze: "Zurab Kakhabrishvili has an Information about Who Made Athletes Make such Mistake"

 

President of Georgian Wrestling National Federation Luka Kurtanidze meets Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Levan Kipiani. Of course the main issue of this meeting is the doping-scandal of the Georgian wrestlers. As far as you know, two months ago, the samples which was taken during the international tournament in Russia, showed the prohibited drugs in the blood of the member of freestyle wrestling team and European champion Giorgi Edisherashvili (55kg) and member of Greco-Roman team Levan Arabuli (120kg).

Before going to the Ministry the president of Wrestling Federation answered the questions of “World Sport”.

- When did you find out that the wrestlers got prohibited drugs?

- I was at the meeting in Borjomi together with the team. The day before yesterday, the team’s doctor Zurab Kakhabrishvili arrived and told us that two athletes are wrapped into the doping-scandal. He had the strictest talk with the wrestlers and he will probably make a statement in this regard.

- Has it already been confirmed that the athletes willfully violated the rule?

- As I know, Kakhabrishvili has information about who made wrestlers make such mistake and he will probably make the strictest decision. However, this happened willfully or not has not great importance any more. Professional athlete should be mobilized as much as possible and should not make such hasty step. Federation, Ministry of Sports and the whole country are doing everything to create the ideal conditions for athletes. Each of them should have great sense of responsibility and refrain from getting any vitamins or supplements. This is a crime not only towards the fans and country, but towards yourself too.

- We learned that the athletes do not require additional sample. Thus, they accepted the situation and two-year disqualification is inevitable.

- As I know, there is still a chance to avoid severe punishment. We will get the ultimate answer on January 20 from the German laboratory. If only minor violations are revealed, then it is not excluded that the athletes will be given warning or a short-term punishment.

- Do Edisherashvili and Arabuli continue practicing with the team?

- They are at the meeting. They got such psychological trauma, that we refrained from imposing sanctions at this stage. We will wait for the final report and then decide what to do.  

- Approximately how many percent is a chance to survive from the 2-year disqualification?

- I cannot tell. If there is even one percent, we will fight till the end.

 

Otar Maglakelidze

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