Even as they were distracted by an Iranian team’s hasty departure from the United States, wrestling’s leaders got some good news a day before the international wrestling federation (FILA) has an extraordinary congress that needs to embody all senses of the word “extraordinary.”
The news: Raphael Martinetti of Switzerland told the federation’s board Friday he has dropped his bid to regain the presidency.
Many blame Martinetti’s intransigence and total domination of federation affairs for the International Olympic Committee executive board’s extraordinary February recommendation that wrestling be dropped from the Olympic program after the 2016 Summer Games.