Rafael Khalatyan

Armenia

Sports Journalist at Inside the Games (UK)

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Articles

Second Kazakh grappling gold stripped

1 week ago | insidethegames.biz | Rafael Khalatyan

Kazakhstan's success at the 2024 Grappling World Championships is in doubt after Sarsen Zhetibayev, a two-time world champion and winner at the 2023 World Combat Games, accepted a three-year sanction for testing positive for the banned substance boldenone. The International Testing Agency, acting on behalf of United World Wrestling, reported that Zhetibayev agreed to the consequences for his anti-doping rule violation.
Women's judo explored in Paris

1 week ago | insidethegames.biz | Rafael Khalatyan

A conference was held at the Maison de la Culture du Japon in Paris, France, on 13 May. Organised by judo expert and historian Michel Brousse, the event explored the historical journey and contemporary presence of women in the sport. The event featured several prominent keynote speakers from the judo world.
Taekwondo star joins UN role

1 week ago | insidethegames.biz | Rafael Khalatyan

Ivorian practitioner Cheick Cissé Sallah has been named an ambassador of the Universal Declaration of Human Dignity (DDHu) at the United Nations Organisation. The appointment recognises his standing in the world of sport, following a career that includes Olympic and world championship titles. Speaking after his nomination, Cissé expressed pride in becoming an ambassador for the DDHu on the occasion of the declaration's 10th anniversary on 13 May at the UN.
Paralympic talks ignite TNZ hopes

1 week ago | insidethegames.biz | Rafael Khalatyan

Taekwondo New Zealand participated in a breakfast gathering organised by the nation's Paralympic body, engaging in insightful discussions with the President of the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons. The event, described by TNZ as a 'new beginning,' provided an opportunity for President Grandmaster Jin Keun Oh to engage in a discussion about the Paralympic Movement.
Farghaly banned, African gold stripped

1 week ago | insidethegames.biz | Rafael Khalatyan

The Egyptian freestyle wrestler has been sanctioned with a three-year period of ineligibility after testing positive for prohibited substances, the International Testing Agency announced on behalf of United World Wrestling. The positive test, which occurred at the 2024 African Championships in Alexandria, Egypt, means Mohamed Ahmed Farghaly Abd al-Al will be stripped of the gold medal he won at the event.
USADA bans wrestler Thomas Gilman

1 week ago | insidethegames.biz | Rafael Khalatyan

As a member of the USADA Registered Testing Pool, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist was required to provide regular whereabouts information for out-of-competition testing. However, he failed to do so within a 12-month period. Thomas Gilman won his first World Championship silver medal in 2017, but it was in 2021 that he really made his mark, first winning the National Olympic Trials and then taking home a bronze medal in the -57 kg category.
Muaythai marks historic global advancements

1 week ago | insidethegames.biz | Rafael Khalatyan

The sport's inclusion in two major upcoming multi-sport events was officially confirmed at the 45th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia in Kuwait: the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain this October and the 2026 Indoor Asian Games. These significant milestones on the global sporting stage marki advancements in muaythai's international recognition and integration into multi-sport events.
IWF President Jalood secures new term

1 week ago | insidethegames.biz | Rafael Khalatyan

The Iraqi has been overwhelmingly re-elected as president of the International Weightlifting Federation for the 2025–29 term, securing 168 votes from delegates at the electoral congress in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. First elected in June 2022, Mohammed Jalood, who was unopposed this time, expressed his satisfaction with the level of support, stating, "I am of course very happy and honoured to have received this level of trust and confidence from the national federations.
Fair play and fun at IAPS Judo

1 week ago | insidethegames.biz | Rafael Khalatyan

Over 300 young judoka representing 40 Independent Association of Prep Schools gathered on the weekend of 10-11 May for the highly anticipated 2025 IAPS Judo Championships. The event, renowned on the school sports calendar, was organised by Core Judo, with support from British Judo. A key feature of this year's championships was its commitment to fairness and athlete development. Rules and groupings were carefully adjusted to ensure a level playing field across all divisions.
CAS upholds Lyu Xiaojun ban

1 week ago | insidethegames.biz | Rafael Khalatyan

Chinese weightlifting icon, triple Olympic champion has been handed a four-year disqualification by the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) following an anti-doping rule violation for erythropoietin (EPO). The CAS ADD confirmed on 22 May 2025 that Lyu Xiaojun, a revered figure in weightlifting, committed an anti-doping rule violation due to the presence of EPO in a sample collected during an out-of-competition test on 30 October 2022.