May 10, 2013
Following his resignation given on February 16th, 2013, the former President of FILA, Mr Raphael Martinetti, has sued FILA in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Mr. Martinetti claimed in substance that he should remain a member of the FILA Bureau despite his resignation as President, that the election as acting President of Mr. Nenad Lalovic be declared null, and that FILA should be prevented from holding its Congress in Moscow on May 18th, 2013.
In an award rendered today, the operative part of which was notified to the parties, the CAS confirmed FILA’s right to hold its Congress on May 18th, 2013, in Moscow. It did not invalidate Mr. Lalovic’s election. Pursuant to the CAS Mr. Martinetti remains a member of the Bureau.
The decision rendered by the CAS enables FILA to prepare itself during its upcoming Congress so as to submit to the IOC Executive Board, on May 29th, 2013, in Saint Petersburg, the strongest presentation to ensure that wrestling be included in the Program of the 2020 Olympic Games.
I heard the same thing at the Curby Cup this weekend. If that happens, my inclination would be to do something very significant in protest. I would hope that USA Wrestling and the rest of the members of FILA would not stand for it. But then, our infighting could be the nail in our coffin. It would be the worst of the worst things to happen if he regains the post. That would be a no win situation..
Since the beginning of the great Olympics Wrestling was the true hero of the greek people. It is as traditional as the marathon had a real meaning. the many people here in america who participated in the sport at every level respect the principles of the sport and have reached a level of greatness. While watching the American wrestlers who were great chamions but I saw three coaches that were all sitting on the side while their understudies competed and lost. Its like we do not want the awards. John Smith should be still competing and that is what I am saying. Sanders? What I think they are right because these guys aren’t used up. They want our best or nothing. I agree and I will say it again all I could see was those three coaces great champions not competing.
There are some who think Martinetti will regain the Presidency at their meeting this weekend. That will devastate our chances of getting the sport back in September if he’s successful. Please understand, the battle we’re fighting has nothing to do with the sport of wrestling and everything to do with the sports leadership. USAWrestling and FILA has failed both us and the sport by rebuffing the IOC’s ongoing directive to clean up their act. The battle has always been about who is more impressive through the use of a yard stick. That’s not the way to run a business or steward a sport.