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Wrestling Champion Armen Nazaryan Goes on Hunger Strike to Protest Decision to Drop Sport From Olympics

by Doug Kyed on Sun, Mar 3, 2013 at 10:17AM

A wrestling champion is ready to drop weight, but it’s not in preparation for a match. In fact, it’s the opposite.

Armen Nazaryan is going on a hunger strike to protest the decision to drop wrestling as an Olympic sport, according to Reuters. The 38-year-old won gold in the 1996 and 2000 games. He won bronze in 2004.

“I’m protesting against the recommendation to drop wrestling from the Olympics,” Nazaryan said. “Wrestling has always been part of the Olympic program and it’s not right to exclude it from the Games. I’m starting my hunger strike and from now on I will drink only syrup.”

Nazaryan competed for Armenia, his home country, until 1996. He then switched allegiances to Bulgaria for the 1997 World Championships and beyond. With the switch he made the move from flyweight to featherweight.