Russia’s freestyle wrestling program has barred national team members from Real American Freestyle (RAF).
Head coach Khadzhimurat Gatsalov announced that athletes who earn their spots at the Russian Championships will no longer be allowed to compete in the American promotion.
The decision follows Russia’s showing at the World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, where the team won 14 medals, four of them gold.
Gatsalov was unhappy with the preparation of three athletes who had fought in RAF – Ismail Khaniyev, Ibragim Kadiev and two-time Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev:
Three guys, Khaniev, Kadeev, and Sadulaev, who competed at the RAF didn’t have proper training. We were in the mountains, needing to gain weight and build physical fitness.
But they were preparing for the RAF.
The federation’s position, and my personal position, is that those who qualified at the Russian Championships won’t compete anywhere except in ranking tournaments, which will be determined by the coaching staff. It’s a tough stance.
I think Rashid didn’t quite get through the entire preparatory process. And he needs more competitive practice.
He didn’t compete much, and he missed the Russian Championships due to injury.
The money explains the pull.
Olympic champion Zaurbek Sidakov said RAF offered him roughly $80,000 per match, three to four times what the Professional Wrestling League pays him.
Sources familiar with talks involving Sadulaev point to six-figure appearance fees plus separate six-figure win bonuses.
Russia’s official reward for Olympic gold is about 4 million rubles, so one RAF appearance could pay close to four times that.
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