The president of the international wrestling federation quit Saturday in the wake of the IOC's decision to remove the sport from the 2020 Olympics.
Raphael Martinetti's resignation was announced at the FILA executive committee meeting in Phuket. The Swiss had been in the position since 2002.
On Tuesday, the executive board of the IOC dumped wrestling from the list of sports guaranteed a berth in future Summer Olympics, meaning it must compete with other fringe sports for a spot on the program.
USA Wrestling executive director Rich Bender paid credit to Martinetti but said his departure could boost the sport's chances of returning to the Olympic program.
"This decision provides international wrestling with an opportunity to change and improve," Bender said in a statement on USA Wrestling's website. "The sport will now be able to create a fresh new relationship with the International Olympic Committee and address some of the pressing challenges and opportunities facing wrestling."
The FILA Executive Committee meeting was scheduled to hold a media conference later Saturday.
Now wrestling is no longer a core Olympic sport, it must compete with seven others -- baseball and softball, squash, karate, wakeboarding, sport climbing, roller sports and the martial art of wushu -- in lobbying to earn the last spot on the 28-sport program for the 2020 Olympics, which have yet to be awarded to a host city.
The decision is scheduled to be decided at an IOC meeting in May at St. Petersburg, Russia.
Wrestling will still be on the program at the 2016 Rio Games.
Raphael Martinetti's resignation was announced at the FILA executive committee meeting in Phuket. The Swiss had been in the position since 2002.
On Tuesday, the executive board of the IOC dumped wrestling from the list of sports guaranteed a berth in future Summer Olympics, meaning it must compete with other fringe sports for a spot on the program.
USA Wrestling executive director Rich Bender paid credit to Martinetti but said his departure could boost the sport's chances of returning to the Olympic program.
"This decision provides international wrestling with an opportunity to change and improve," Bender said in a statement on USA Wrestling's website. "The sport will now be able to create a fresh new relationship with the International Olympic Committee and address some of the pressing challenges and opportunities facing wrestling."
The FILA Executive Committee meeting was scheduled to hold a media conference later Saturday.
Now wrestling is no longer a core Olympic sport, it must compete with seven others -- baseball and softball, squash, karate, wakeboarding, sport climbing, roller sports and the martial art of wushu -- in lobbying to earn the last spot on the 28-sport program for the 2020 Olympics, which have yet to be awarded to a host city.
The decision is scheduled to be decided at an IOC meeting in May at St. Petersburg, Russia.
Wrestling will still be on the program at the 2016 Rio Games.
Source: ESPN
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