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Gangsters and Olympians: Female assault case highlights Russian wrestling's underworld

Karim Zidan takes a close look at the Russian Wrestling Federation after its president allegedly assaulted a female Olympian.

Amidst a damning national doping scandal that shocked the global sports community, the Russian Olympic team was dealt another blow when the president of their national wrestling federation allegedly assaulted a member of the team following her bronze medal match in Rio de Janeiro. The case, while ongoing, shed light on one of the most influential figures in Russian combat sports and his reputedly repugnant past.

Mikhail Mamiashvili, the aforementioned head of Russian wrestling, was reportedly intoxicated when he arrived backstage on August 18 following Inna Trazhukova's bronze medal match loss in the women's 63kg division.