India wrestling coach expelled from Tokyo Olympics

Murad Gaidarov, the foreign coach of Indian wrestler Deepak Punia, was expelled from the Tokyo Olympics on Friday for assaulting the referee who officiated the bronze medal play-off, which the Indian lost to San Marino’s Myles Nazim Amine.

Following a hearing, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has revoked Gaidarov’s accreditation.

(1/2) Indian Wrestling team's foreign assistant coach Mr Murad Gaidarov who was involved in an uncalled incident of assault on one of the match referees, is being withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympic Village immediately and is being called back to India on the latest flight.

— rajeev mehta (@rajeevmehtaioa) August 6, 2021

“The Indian wrestling team’s foreign assistant coach, Mr Murad Gaidarov, who was involved in an uncalled-for assault on one of the match referees, is being withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympic Village immediately and is being called back to India on the latest flight,” IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta tweeted.

Deepak has been under Gaidarov’s tutelage for some time now, ever since the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) assigned him to train the 2018 junior world champion. Gaidarov, 42, had won a silver medal for Belarus at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

He was disqualified from the 2004 Olympic Games after assaulting his opponent outside the arena following the loss of his quarterfinal match.