‘It has come to the point where I can no longer remain silent’: European and World Champion Arsen Harutyunyan’s Statement

Arsen Harutyunyan, a double European champion in free-style wrestling and bronze medalist at the World Championships, has addressed the financial issues facing Armenian wrestling in a Facebook post.

“It has come to the point where I can no longer remain silent. How long must we spend our own money on treatment, buy our vitamins, and prepare for competitions? Where are the federation, the ministry, and the Olympic committee? We are not receiving salaries either. Right now, I have an injury, and I am personally covering my treatment expenses, yet I am not compensated for my victories in that manner,” stated Harutyunyan.

“Only 60 wrestlers are participating in the Armenian Championship. The reason is that no one is getting paid and they leave the sport to find jobs instead. Instead of training, wrestlers are worrying about how to meet their and their families’ expenses, but isn’t sports our job, for which we should be compensated just like in the rest of the world? If the approach towards athletes does not change and attention is not given, many will leave the sport.

I am 22 years old; let’s imagine that I am not the European champion but merely a bronze medalist, earning only 100,000 dram, which is not enough even to cover transportation costs, forcing me to ask my parents for money. There are Armenian champions who have placed in large competitions, for instance, taking 5th place, and they do not receive a salary. Not everyone can win at once; some need time, but they are forced to end their careers. The sports leadership must be caring and attentive to our problems,” Harutyunyan emphasized.