(ATR) Raphaël Martinetti resigns as president of the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles following a no-confidence vote of his colleagues.
Four days after wrestling was left off the list of 25 "core sports" for the 2020 Olympics– and a day after vowing to "fiercely" fight for its reinstatement in comments made to Around his Rings–the Swiss handed over the reins toNenad Lalovic of Serbia in a stunning twist for FILA.
During an emergency meeting of the FILA Bureau in Phuket, Thailand, "a group of Eastern delegates accused him of being to blame for the eviction of wrestling as part of the 25 core sports for the 2020 Olympic Games," says a Saturday statement from FILA.
"Mr. Martinetti asked for the Bureau's trust in leading the campaign to save wrestling in the coming months, but the Bureau only supported him by 50 percent of the votes," explains FILA.
"Mr. Martinetti did not use his casting vote to save his position and announced his resignation in order to give the chance to another President to act upon the situation."
Following the FILA Bureau's nomination of Lalovic, an extraordinary congress may be called by the Bureau or by at least one-third of FILA's national federations in order to either approve the Serb or appoint another acting president.
"Mr. Martinetti hopes that this situation will help save wrestling and thanks all National Federations for their unfailing support throughout his term as FILA President since 2002," says Saturday's statement.
"Mr. Martinetti also wishes plenty of success to Mr. Lalovic for the mission that now rests in his hands."
After its Tuesday snub from the IOC, wrestling now joins karate, roller sport, squash, sport climbing, wakeboard, wushu as well as a joint bid by baseball and softball for consideration by EB members at their May meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia with one or more to be recommended for a vote of the IOC Session scheduled for September in Buenos Aires.
Wrestling was part of the first Olympics almost 3,000 years ago and has been in every modern Games since 1904.
Stay tuned to ATR for more on this developing story ...
Reported by Matthew Grayson
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