It's the Third Major Tournament Mihran is Deprived of His Victory (Exclusive)

• 08.18.2016, 15:20
•  No-politics,  Interview

In male Greco-Roman wrestling 66kg Mihran Harutiunyan scored a draw with the Serbian Davor Stefanek but the Serbian wrestler became an Olympic champion because he had the last score. Mihran Harutiunyan won a silver medal which led to a big scandal, since, according to experts, the athlete should have received the gold medal instead.

"Armedia" IAA talked with sports commentators Robert Gasparyan and Gayane Nazaryan in order to know whether injustice has occurred and weather it  is possible to appeal the decision.

"The injustice was more than obvious. Even the other athletes standing on the winner's podium approached individually and comforted Mihran. The Serbian wrestler should have felt that his medal is not worth a penny,’’ Robert told.

"The unfairness of the competition is beyond any question. Unfortunately, this is not the first time in Mihran’s case. It is the third major tournament during just a year in which Mihran was deprived of his victory,"Gayane noted in turn. "First one was at European games in Baku, then it was Las Vegas World Cup and finally this one: the first one could be an accident, the second one – a coincidence ... But what about this?"

As for the appeal, Robert said that the best option for appealing is Lausanne’s Court of Arbitration for Sport. But Gayane thinks it is hardly possible to change anything. Sports commentator noted that during World Cup Mihran’s referees were disqualified, but it did not touch the outcome of the contest.

"There was nobody to support Mihran. The different responsible delegations left the issue neglected. The whole nation was crying with Mihran the other day,” she concluded.