Albanian Wrestling Federation has lodged a formal appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding Chermen Valiev’s match against Uzbekistan’s Razambek Salambekovitch Jamalov. Federation president Sahit Prizreni alleged that Valiev was unjustly denied the chance to advance to the semifinals at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

In an interview for RTSH 24, Prizreni expressed hope that justice would be served, potentially securing a gold medal for Albania. He pointed out that similar cases have seen justice after the games.

“We were prepared for victory, and I was confident we would win a medal. We ended up with two bronze medals that feel like gold. Chermen Valiev’s semifinal match was stolen from him, and we have filed a complaint with CAS. I believe justice will be done. What happened with Valiev and his opponent from Uzbekistan is an open theft. The referee’s actions, including taking the last 10 seconds and awarding points to our opponent, were unjustifiable. Although the bronze medals are valuable, we hope for a gold and a bronze if justice prevails. There is precedent, like the case of an Indian athlete who received a gold medal from the US after the games. Albania has done its part,” said Prizreni.

Prizreni also responded to criticism about the origins of the two bronze medalists, emphasizing that Islam Dudaev and Chermen Valiev have proudly represented the Albanian flag and deserve recognition from all Albanians.

“Albanians are very sensitive about the flag. These athletes have honored and raised the Albanian flag, perhaps even more so than a native Albanian could. I am grateful to all who honor our flag. It is the duty of every Albanian, whether in our country or abroad. These athletes deserve our appreciation,” he stated.

Prizreni concluded by calling for increased investment and support for sports.

“These medals are significant for Albanian sports, and I believe they will usher in a new era. We have proven that we can achieve European and world medals. We need a unified effort through policies, government support, and passion for sports,” Prizreni added.

For the first time in history, Albania secured two bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics through Islam Dudaev and Chermen Valiev in the 65 and 74 kg freestyle wrestling categories.

/a.p./