Russian great Sadulaev set to join Iranian FS Premier League: Report
Russian wrestling sensation Abdulrashid Sadulaev is in advanced talks to join Bank Shahr in the Iran Freestyle Premier League, according to the sports news website Varzesh3.
Should the deal be finalized, the 29-year-old will represent Bank Shahr in the 97kg weight class in the league semifinals against Khaybar Khorramabad.
Nicknamed ‘The Russian Tank,’ six-time world champion Sadulaev won Olympic gold medals at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, but missed the chance to pursue a third title in Paris last year.
He was barred from competing in the European Olympic qualifiers after United World Wrestling (UWW) found new information regarding his support for the Russia–Ukraine war, deeming him ineligible to represent the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as an individual neutral athlete.
With Bank Shahr and Esteghlal Juybar dominating the preliminary phase of this season’s Iranian league, a third meeting between the two star-studded clubs is on the cards in the final – where Iranian fans could be treated to a highly anticipated showdown between Sadulaev and Iran’s 10-time world and Olympic medalist Hassan Yazdani.
Yazdani, who has been sidelined with a lengthy shoulder injury since his 86kg final defeat at last year’s Paris Olympics, joined Esteghlal in early
November but was not part of the 10-man roster when his team suffered a 7-3 loss to Bank Shahr in Group B last Friday.
Esteghlal had edged Bank Shahr 5-5 (42-41) in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.
Sadulaev was also ruled out of September’s World Championships in Zagreb after Croatia denied him an entry visa – the third major event he missed following Paris 2024 and April’s European Championships.
The last time Sadulaev faced an Iranian opponent, he staged a dramatic comeback with four seconds remaining to defeat two-time world champion Kamran Qassempour 5–3 in the semifinals en route to the 92kg gold at the 2024 World Championships in Tirana, Albania.