Visa issue stops 'Russian Tank' again

•  By Rafael Khalatyan

• Friday, 12 September 2025

Two-time Olympic, six-time World champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev has been barred from the World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, a setback marking the fourth major tournament he's been forced to sit out in the past two years.

The Russian Wrestling Federation has confirmed on Thursday that Abdulrashid Sadulaev, who was due to compete in the 97kg category, was not granted a Schengen visa for entry into Croatia. 

This recent setback follows similar visa-related issues that prevented him from participating in the 2024 European Championships in Romania and the 2025 European Championships in Slovakia.

In a post on his Telegram channel, Sadulaev expressed his disappointment but maintained a determined outlook. "We had three serious training camps and were in full combat readiness for the World Championships, but the story is repeating itself," he wrote. 

He went on to thank his fans for their global support, stating, "I will continue to fight as long as I have the health and energy." Sadulaev also thanked his country for trying to help him until the very end. He concluded by wishing his replacement, Magomed Kurbanov, success.

Kurbanov, who successfully secured his visa for entry into Croatia, will take Sadulaev's place in the 97kg weight clas, like he did in Slovakia. He went on to win silver in Bratislava, and now ill be one of the medal contenders at the World Championships, which starts on Saturday.

Sadulaev's exclusion from major events dates back even further, as he was barred from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Despite qualifying, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) panel deemed him ineligible to compete under neutral status due to his ties with Russian military sports clubs. However, the 'Russian Tank' proved his enduring form by winning his sixth World Championship title in October 2024, triumphing in the non-Olympic 92kg division in Albania.

Sadulaev is the only Russian free-style wrestler, who was rejected visa. Tokyo 2020 and reigning world champion Zaurbek Sidakov was granted visa at the last moment. According to the Russian media, several Greco-Roman wrestlers are still waiting for their visas. 

Source:  https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1154967/visa-issue-stops-sadulaev-again