Mirzazadeh given Olympic boost after Turkish Kayaalp receives doping ban
Turkish Greco-Roman wrestler Rıza Kayaalp was handed a provisional suspension by the United World Wrestling after testing positive for banned substances, meaning the 13-time world and Olympic medalist is ruled out of the Paris Games later this month.
Kayaalp will be replaced by reigning world under-23 champion Hamza Bakır in the country’s Greco-Roman squad heading to the Games, Turkish online newspaper T24 reported.
The news come as major boost for Iranian Amin Mirzazadeh in his quest for the 130kg gold in Paris.
Mirzazadeh and Kayaalp have been familiar foes of the superheavyweight class since they first squared off in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, when the Turkish wrestler beat the Iranian 7-2 in the bronze medal bout and won his third Olympic medal.
Kayaalp repeated his victory over Mirzazadeh in the final showpiece of the 2022 World Championships, coming out on top on criteria, before the Iranian celebrated a first win against the Turkish great when he overturned a 2-0 deficit late on to beat Kayaalp to the world gold last year in Belgrade.
However, legendary Cuban Mijaín López will be the ultimate favorite for the superheavyweight glory in Paris as the 41-year-old will return to the Games to chase a remarkable fifth successive Olympic gold.