Kianoush Rostami dropped from Iran weightlifting team

February 5, 2017 - 14:44

Olympic gold medallist Kianoush Rostami has been dropped from Iran weightlifting national team after not participating at training.

Rostami has coached himself and trained alone in the past year.

He won a gold medal in men’s 85 kg category at the 2016 Summer Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"The Iranian coaches are good but I want to make my own decisions," he said after winning the gold medal in Rio. "Nobody thought it was possible to come to Rio without a coach. But here I am".

On Sunday, Iran coach Sajjad Anoushiravani announced that the weightlifter is no longer a member of the Iran national team.  

“Rostami has been dropped from the national team after not participating in the training. He will not a member of our team in the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku in May. Rostami has been also dropped from the national team in the 2017 Asian Weightlifting Championship,” Anoushiravani said.