The Iran Weightlifting Federation has banned Mostafa Rajaei for life after he shook the hand of an Israeli athlete at the sport's World Master Champio...

Seems super harsh, but would like to know your opinions as well.

Official statement here.

Translation:

The statement of the weightlifting federation condemning the unsportsmanlike behavior of the veteran weightlifter Expulsion and lifetime ban for all offenders The Weightlifting Federation strongly condemns the action of the veteran weightlifter of the Iranian team during the World Veteran Championship, which is against the ideals of the holy system of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The positions of the weightlifting federation are in line with the positions of the holy system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and this federation, while considering the lifetime exclusion from participating in all sports venues for the guilty athlete (Mustafa Rajaei), also removed the head of the expedition team (Hamid Salehinia) from his position and After further investigations, serious and decisive action will be taken against all the wrongdoers. Undoubtedly, the fight against the usurping Zionist regime and its supporters is one of the main pillars of the strategic policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and in this regard, the Weightlifting Federation does not recognize the illegitimate regime of Israel, fully following the ideals of Imam Rahel (RA) and the guidelines of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution. It has been placed as an inviolable principle of the system to promote the fighting and Islamic spirit against the Zionists.

  • AssortedBiscuits [they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I don’t think people should take Western media of designated Western enemy at face value. For one, I don’t see anything in the IRIWF’s website about a weightlifter being banned for life. I don’t see anything on their Telegram or Instagram either. You could argue that they didn’t post anything on their social media because it would ruffle too many feathers (it would only ruffle the feathers of Westerners), but then the question becomes: how did Western media get a hold of these alleged statements made by the president of a sports organization that weren’t even released on their official site? Did the president made these statements to himself while he was taking a piss and a Western journalist just so happen to be taking a shit at the same bathroom?