Simon Martirosyan Will Not Receive Gold Medal from Rio Olympic Games

The Olympic weightlifting silver medalist Simon Martirosyan will not receive the gold medal from the Rio Olympic Games. The legal case has concluded in favor of Nurudinov.

This was stated by Pashik Alaverdyan, the head coach of the Armenian men's weightlifting team and the general secretary of the Armenian Weightlifting Federation, in a conversation with a NEWS.am Sport correspondent.

“Simon Martirosyan will not receive the gold medal from the Rio Olympic Games. The legal case has been concluded in favor of Nurudinov. From December 20, the Uzbek weightlifter will be out of suspension and will be able to participate in international competitions. It has already been officially stated on the international federation's website and in Uzbek media,” said Pashik Alaverdyan.

It is worth mentioning that in December 2019, it became known that the champion's title from the Rio Olympic Games, held by the Uzbek Ruslan Nurudinov, tested positive for doping and he would be stripped of his gold medal.

Later, Pashik Alaverdyan also reported in an interview with NEWS.am Sport that he received a letter from the president of the International Weightlifting Federation regarding Nurudinov's suspension and Simon Martirosyan's championship.

In Rio, Simon Martirosyan won the silver medal with a total lift of 417 kg (190+227). Ruslan Nurudinov secured first place with a total of 431 kg (194+237). Ruslan Nurudinov was also stripped of his fourth position from the London 2012 Olympic Games due to a positive doping test.