What should the IOC do about the Ara Abrahamian wrestling embarrassment?

Question

Ara Abrahamian is a childish and frustrated loser, a poor sport of global proportions and an embarrassment to wrestling and to his noble country.

"I don't care about this medal. I wanted gold", he was quoted as saying. In the midst of the award ceremony in which an Italian wrestler was (rightly) presented with the gold medal, the oafish and immature Ara Abrahamian, in a tasteless gesture of supreme fatheaded jackassery, removed his bronze medal, dropped it out on the mat and stormed off.

Abrahamian, who earlier on in his vulgar spectacle of loutish antics, had had to be physically restrained by (embarrassed, I'm sure) teammates, announced that he was quitting wrestling.

Yes, Ara, you should quit! You're disgusting behavior has made you a complete failure anyway! So not only are you an infantile twit for your actions and attitudes in defeat (this is not the first time), you're also a quitter!

Abrahamian reminds me of a three-year-old, kicking and screaming when he doesn't get his way. I don't minimize his years of effort and dedication, but Abrahamian's antics have become a blight and a cancer upon what would have otherwise been a laudable career.

My hope for Abrahamian and for all of international sport is that the results of the impending IOC disciplinary hearing will be enough to really make a difference - to push Abrahamian's shameful legacy and subsequent sanctions into the spotlight and to give ample warning to the rest of the world. In my opinion, the IOC should make a glaring example of Abrahamian in order that all should understand that behavior like his will never be tolerated.

To Ara Abrahamian, I say good riddance! You will NOT be missed!

Answer 1

You all write how uncivilized he is and how he reacted in a bad manner but none of you have actually considered that he might have been right. It is very easy to call someone a loser and so on but to analyze the reasons for his reactions, that takes a bit more of an effort doesnt it ?

Answer 2

Indeed what should they do about the embarrassment of Ara Abrahamian. In my opinion there should be an official apology from the IOC to the admirable wrestler, who has had such a great carrier and who was on his way to take the one medal he was missing. Robbery and corruption deprived him the chance to fight for the gold medal, I can in no way condemn him for his behavior for I can understand his frustration and anger.

Can you honestly say that it is wrong to react upon mistreatment, that one should silently accept corruption instead of reacting upon it. Indeed that would shameful if no one would react upon such obvious mistreatment.

To Ara Abrahamian, I say thank you! You will indeed be missed! You are one of the great ones within the wrestling sport.  

Answer 3

Abrahamian did the right thing. He did not get a fair game due to corrupt referees and a corrupt FILA. He refused to accept the results and the medal just as the US bb team in 72. Doing it the way Ara did is as good as not showing up as the US team did. He took the medal, thanked the wrestler next to him, walked to the center of the wrestling circle and dropped the medal. He did not throw it in a temper tantrum as many web sites reports, the media coverage of this is very bad.

Answer 4

I think the 1972 U.S. men’s basketball team had exactly the right idea in this scenario: simply blow off the medal ceremony altogether. That got their protest across in no uncertain terms without making them look like jerks or spoiling the ceremony for the other medalists. If Abrahamian had done this, no doubt he’d be commanding a lot more respect than he does now.

The real question is, what can the IOC do to Abrahamian that will hurt him enough to deter anyone else, considering that he's already sworn off his former sport anyway? The most the IOC can do to an individual athlete is impose a lifetime ban, but unless Abrahamian decides to pull a Brett Favre, that's not much of a punishment. And whatever action the IOC takes, it should take care not to set a precedent that discourages more dignified and legitimate protests like the aforementioned '72 U.S. men's basketball team.

Answer 5

Everyone who knows wrestling know he was robbed, there just isn't any way around it. It's only your hyperbole that is embarrasing at this point.

This was his last match so I'm sure he does not care about the IOC and what they will do.

My suggestion however, is that they remove wrestling as an olympic sport until Fila cleans their sport up.

Answer 6

Put him in a CHINESE PRISON.

Answer 7

As the mother of a 14 year old Champion Wrestler, I found Mr.Abrahamians Antics to be distressing to say the Least and Downright Shameful for Wrestlers everywhere especially when we as Parents of Young Athletes are trying our BEST to teach Good Sportsmanship and Good Conduct even in the face of a trying, POSSIBLY even UNFAIR Decision...ALL Wrestlers have been there, I know my Boy has, he even Lost State Placement one year to a Bad Decision and Illegal Moves on the other Wrestlers Part...he was only 12 at the time and he did NOT Throw a Tantrum, he knew it is all part of the Sport of Wrestling...SOMEONE FAILED to Teach this Fundamental Rule to Abrahamian...I SAY GOOD RIDDANCE AS WELL~

Answer 8

jorma, not only are you apparently clueless about wrestling, you have completely missed the point of this post. Or perhaps you avoided it deliberately? And of course Abrahamian cares what the IOC will do. Now, the standing of his whole team's future is compromised.

Annnyywaaayyy...

What Abrahamian did is an absolute and complete abomination and a serious no-no. All because of him, the Swedish wrestling team is now in danger of potential penalties for years to come (not the individuals, of course, but the team corporately). There's much president for this - an unfortunate but necessary reality of Olympic team sports.

Yes, there should be serious consequences for Abrahamian's unacceptable behavior.