Azerbaijani athlete accuses President of IWF

Baku. 13 June. REPORT.AZ/ Azerbaijani weightlifter Valentin Hristov commented on decision of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) about his disqualification for 8 years.

22-year-old athlete accused President of IWF, Tamas Ajan in his interview with Report News Agency.

V.Hristov said he was twice punished for his career because of not passing a doping test: "Armenian I.Ayan destroyed us as athletes. He did it deliberately. It is unfortunate that no one helped us.

"We have a hard time because of this punishment. In Azerbaijan, all know that my body is completely clean.However, as you can see, we are punished for 8 years. Although during his recent visit to Azerbaijan Ayan said that he will help athletes who have had problems with doping test, this Armenians did not help us."

Bulgarian-born athlete said he did not know what to do in 8 years of disqualification: "I'm engaged in weightlifting for 12 years. It is very difficult to retire at 22 years, as I could further raise the Azerbaijani flag for upcoming 10 years.

"I came to Azerbaijan in 2011, and at my age 17 won the gold medal at the European Championships among adults.

After that, then my coach Zlatan Vanev called me and said that he wanted to prepare me for the summer Olympic Games in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. Rejecting the offer, I stayed in Baku, and married to an Azerbaijani girl. A have two children."

V.Hristov said that if the punishment is not reconsidered, he will have to wait for 8 years: "In 2023, I will mark my 30 years. I am fully confident that I am clean. I can easily compete for 8 years, until then Ayan will pass away."

Notably, Valentin Hristov is a two-time European champion and two-time bronze medalist of the World Championship.

In Summer Olympics 2012 in London, he won a bronze medal for Azerbaijan in the weight category of 56 kg.This is the first and only medal in the country's history in weightlifting.