Alireza Karimi

Alireza Karimi Machiani (Persian: علیرضا کریمی ماچیانی‎; born 21 March 1994) is an Iranian freestyle wrestler. He won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships in the 86 kg division.[4][5] He was eliminated by J'den Cox of the United States in the third bout at the 2016 Olympics.[2]

Alireza Karimi
Karimi at the 2016 Olympics
Personal information
Native nameعلیرضا کریمی ماچیانی
Full nameAlireza Karimi Machiani
Nationality Iran
Born (1994-03-21) 21 March 1994
Karaj,[1] Iran
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Weight198 lb (90 kg)
Sport
CountryIran
SportFreestyle wrestling
Coached byMohammad Kermani[3]
Medal record
Representing  Iran
World Championships
2019 Nur-Sultan92 kg
2015 Las Vegas86 kg
2018 Budapest92 kg
Asian Games
2018 Jakarta 97 kg
Asian Championships
2015 Doha86 kg
2017 New Delhi86 kg
2019 Xi'an92 kg

In February 2018 the United World Wrestling banned Karimi for six months for deliberately throwing a match to avoid having to face an Israeli opponent, Uri Kalashnikov who went on to win the bronze medal.[6] He thereby violated International Wrestling Rules and the UWW Disciplinary Regulations, by intentionally losing to a Russian competitor in the quarterfinal of the U-23 World Championship in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in the 86-kilogram category, in November 2017.[7] Karimi was then supposed to face the Israeli, Kalashnikov, in the repechage (to compete for the bronze medal), but he forfeited that match.[8] Karimi’s coach, Hamidreza Jamshidi, was also banned from the sport, in his case for two years, for instructing Karimi to lose, shouting from the sidelines: "Ali Reza, lose."[7][9] Karimi told the Iranian Students News Agency that he purposefully lost to avoid the risk of competing against the Israeli.[10] Iran's wrestling federation had praised Karimi for throwing the match.[10]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the Iranian regime for its actions, and accused it of interfering in sports and pressuring its athletes to not compete against the Israelis, saying "hating others will never make you a champion. It only makes you a pathetic and insecure loser."[11] Iran Wrestling Federation president Rasoul Khadem said: "The federation will protest the verdict ... During his six-month ban, Karimi Mashiani can take part in domestic competitions and in the final stage of the national team selection. His ban will be over before the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and the World Championship."[12]

See also

References
  1. "علیرضا کریمی و سیر موفقیت در کشتی". Radio Varzesh IRIB. 30 January 2019.
  2. Alireza Mohammad Karimimachiani Archived 2016-08-26 at the Wayback Machine. rio2016.com
  3. Alireza Mohammad Karimimachiani Archived 2016-09-20 at the Wayback Machine. nbcolympics.com
  4. "Iran's Karimi snatches bronze in World Wrestling Championships". IRNA. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  5. "World Wrestling Championships: Iran's Karimi claims bronze medal". Tehran Times. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  6. Iranian wrestler banned for avoiding Israeli - Israel News - The Jerusalem Post
  7. Iranian wrestler who threw match to avoid Israeli banned for 6 months | The Times of Israel
  8. Video: Iranian wrestler throws match to avoid match-up with Israeli counterpart - Bloody Elbow
  9. Iranian Wrestler Throws Match To Avoid Facing Israeli In Next Round : The Two-Way : NPR
  10. Iranian wrestler Alireza Karimi admits he threw match to avoid Israeli, USA Today.
  11. Benjamin Netanyahu Blasts Iran for Making Wrestler Throw Match | TMZ.com
  12. Iran protests ban on wrestler who threw bout to avoid Israeli - Samaa TV
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