With the practice being at an all time high, Russian legend and head coach Ghadjimurad Gatsolov drops the hammer and bans Russian wrestlers repping other countries from training with the national teams after this kid won 2023 worlds. I wonder if he stuck to this bc there are so many Russians wrestling for so many countries and winning medals. The recent ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes caused a spike in this already common practice. Just off the top of my head I can think of the following Russians making major moves in international freestyle wrestling.
Musakaev and Baitsaev are repping Hungary.
Tsabalov is with Serbia.
Krugliev is repping Greece.
Salkazonov and Makoev are with Slovakia.
Friev is wrestling for Spain.
Ramazonov now wrestled for Bulgaria.
Former world number 1 Opan Sat switched to Turkey years ago.
Batirov and the new kid are with Bahrain.
Even Brazil now has a Russian on the greco side. He just won pan ams.
Russia's wrestling head coach created giant shockwaves after a major announcement targeting Bahraini world wrestling champion.
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