The president of the International Wrestling Federation has quit in the wake of the International Olympic Committee’s decision to remove the sport from the 2020 Olympics.
Raphael Martinetti’s resignation was announced on Saturday at the FILA executive committee meeting in Phuket. Mr. Martinetti had been in the position since 2002.
On Tuesday, the executive board of the IOC dumped wrestling from its guaranteed berth in future summer games, forcing the sport to compete for a spot on the program.
U.S.A. Wrestling executive director Rich Bender said Mr. Martinetti’s departure “provides international wrestling with an opportunity to change and improve,” giving the sport a chance “to create a fresh new relationship” with the IOC.
Wrestling will still be on the program at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
