Olympic Wrestling Gets Reprimand for Rules Infringement

Wrestling federation President Nenad Lalovic says the Japanese wrestling federation wrote to some IOC members promoting the sport.

Wrestling's governing body received a warning for a "minor infringement" of the rules in the bidding race for a spot in the 2020 Olympics.

FILA president Nenad Lalovic told The Associated Press the case involves letters sent by the Japanese wrestling federation to promote the sport to some IOC members. IOC rules prohibit the sports from sending such material in the three weeks before Sunday's vote.

Lalovic said he reported the infringement himself to the IOC once he learned of the Japanese letters.

Wrestling, which was cut from the list of core sports in February, is competing against squash and a combined baseball-softball bid to be included in 2020, with wrestling widely expected to regain its Olympic status.

The IOC said in a letter on Tuesday to the two other sports that an official warning was sent to FILA on Aug. 20 and "the matter is now considered as closed."

"This was a minor infringement of the rules and was dealt with immediately, no further action was necessary," the IOC said in a separate statement to The AP.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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