WRESTLING - ARA ABRAHAMIAN V/ IOC

Ara Abrahamian (Sweden) challenges his exclusion from the Beijing Olympics before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

Lausanne, 11 September 2008 – The Swedish wrestler, Ara Abrahamian, has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision rendered by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 16 August 2008. The IOC Executive Board had decided to exclude Abrahamian from the Beijing Olympic Games following an incident which occurred during the medals ceremony of the men’s Greco-roman wrestling 84kg event.

Ara Abrahamian requests that the sanction be limited to a warning.

Further directions with respect to the arbitration procedure will be issued later by the Tribunal in accordance with the Code of Sports-related arbitration. As a general rule, the CAS delivers its decisions within four months of the filing of the appeal.