Illegal, Unsportsmanlike Decision: Arsen Julfalakyan Outraged

Greco-Roman wrestler, 2012 Olympic silver medalist, world and European champion, and currently a member of the Armenian National Assembly, Arsen Julfalakyan has raised his voice in protest on Facebook against the preliminary selection made by the Armenian Wrestling Federation for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

"I inform all sports enthusiasts, sports journalists, relevant authorities, and the entire public that the so-called coaching council of the Greco-Roman wrestling team has made an ILLEGAL, UNSPORTSMANLIKE, UNPROFESSIONAL decision regarding my weight category (77 kg). First, I would like to announce that there will be a press conference at Armenpress on the 26th at 12:00. I invite journalists to attend and ask ANY questions regarding the topic mentioned.

Continuing my point, the coaching staff, by violating all agreements reached last September, intends to send to the Olympic Games without competition an athlete who placed 5th at the World Championship, someone who lost consecutive matches in that one tournament (and the public knows against whom...). There is no such practice in the world where two strong athletes compete in the same weight category, and one is simply denied the right to fight for the Games. In this case, they are depriving the right from an athlete who ranks third in terms of titles in the sporting history of newly independent Armenia.

It seems that a group of coaches has formed who, guided by purely personal interests and motives (I will discuss this at the press conference), say and do whatever they want, and no one interferes with these decisions, not wanting to upset any side. As a result, justice is harmed, and the athlete's rights are grossly violated.

The issue is that the state must present the strongest athlete for the Olympic Games. However, these people have decided that there is no need to check who the strongest is, but rather to simply choose their preferred candidate according to their taste, violating all previous agreements. A question arises: if they are altruistic, objective, and confident that their chosen athlete is stronger, why do they avoid a qualifying tournament at all costs, and why announce the team six months before the Games when there are still qualification tournaments ahead and the team's composition is not clear at all?

There is not a single team in the world that has made such an announcement six months before the Games. Announcing a team at this point would mean that the athlete listed is already immune, and regardless of everything (condition, health, injuries, discipline, vigilance, etc.), they will participate, while others can simply abandon the sport. Can they say, what are they rushing for by announcing an incomplete team? What do they fear?

These questions are just the beginning... I repeat, this is a gross violation and a manifestation of the most despicable behavior against an athlete who has gone through such a victorious journey. And I have no doubt that this is done specifically against me, as some cannot reconcile with my successes in different fields. When they have no other means to stop my progress, they resort to all possible unfair methods. In other words, they are ready to take anyone to the Olympic Games, as long as it isn't me. It is a shame.

At least in sports, everything is clear: the strongest is the one who wins. But to win, a chance to compete must be given.

I hope that at least the media will not remain silent, and the public will demand that a previously agreed decisive tournament takes place, and whoever wins will gain the right to represent our country in Tokyo 2020. I expect the support of caring and justice-seeking individuals. It is not too late to restore this.

P.S.1: I would never have imagined that such a thing would be organized in my team after about 20 years, especially by people who have presented themselves as my relatives throughout their lives. This is the most unpleasant part of this entire story. Then they will speak grandly about justice.

P.S. 2: Just the results of the last year for comparison with that athlete (in general, simply incomparable).

January - Nisse Tournament: Gold.

April - European Championship: Bronze.

November - Krasnodar Tournament: Gold.

November - Moscow Tournament: Silver (equal match with my main opponent Vlasov in my weight category).

January - Denmark Tournament: Gold.

A total of 22 matches, with 20 victories. Moreover, both in Nisse and Krasnodar tournaments, that individual also participated in different years and won silver in both.

Armenia must present strength in Tokyo,” wrote the athlete.

It is noteworthy that days ago, news spread that the coaching council of the Armenian Wrestling Federation decided that Arthur Aleksanyan would prepare for the Olympic Games in the 97 kg weight category, while Karapet Chalyan would do so in the 77 kg weight category. He noted that the coaching staff intends to send an athlete who placed 5th at the World Championships to the Olympic Games without a fight, someone who lost two consecutive matches in that one tournament. Julfalakyan stated that there is no such practice in the world where one strong athlete in a weight category is simply denied the right to compete for the Games. And in this case, they are depriving an athlete who ranks third in terms of titles in the sporting history of newly independent Armenia of that right.