Iran: Weightlifter given lifetime ban for shaking palms with Israeli competitor

A lifetime ban has been imposed on an Iranian weightlifter by the nation’s weightlifting organisation for talking and shaking palms with an Israeli competitor at an occasion in Poland. The physique declared, “The weightlifting federation bans athlete Mostafa Rajaei for life from entering all sports facilities in the country and dismisses the head of the delegation for the competition, Hamid Salehinia.”

Iranian weightlifter Mostafa Rajaei has been banned for all times by the mullah terror entity 🇮🇷. Why? Because he shook palms with Israeli 🇮🇱 weightlifter Maksim Svirsky at sports activities competitors in Poland. pic.twitter.com/mQmFRbunrg

— Avi Kaner ابراهيم אבי (@AviKaner) August 30, 2023

Israeli weightlifter Maksim Svirsky and Mostafa Rajaei shook palms after they have been on the rostrum at the World Masters championship in Wieliczka on August 26.

The two have been taking part in a weightlifting competitors for “legends” in Wieliczka. The Iranian was photographed subsequent to the Israeli competitor who took dwelling the bronze medal whereas Rajaei gained silver within the competitors.

Iran forbids all interactions between Iranian and Israeli athletes as a result of it does not recognise Israel, which is thought-about a sworn enemy by the Islamist authorities in Iran. The weightlifter reportedly “crossed the red lines of the Islamic Republic” on the occasion the place the Iranian delegation had been “sent with the support of the federation.”

Mostafa Rajaei previously competed for Iran’s nationwide group, and in 2015, he represented Iran in Thailand on the Asian Weightlifting Championships.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme chief of Iran, suggested athletes in 2021 “not to shake hands with a representative of the (Israeli) criminal regime to obtain a medal.” Iranian athletes have averted competing towards Israeli opponents for years, incessantly by being disqualified or presenting paperwork testifying to their sickness.

Alireza Firouzja, a younger chess prodigy, departed Iran as a result of the nation’s chess federation forbade him from competing within the 2019 world championship for concern of enjoying an Israeli opponent. He has now acquired French citizenship.

Saeid Mollaei, an Iranian judoka, left his nation in 2019 after refusing to abstain from an occasion towards Sagi Muki of Israel. He then acquired Mongolian citizenship, befriended him and even travelled to Israel in 2021. Iran’s participation in worldwide judo tournaments was prohibited for 4 years because of the coverage. The restriction is scheduled to finish on 17 September.