Russian lawmaker, ruling United Russia Party member, three-time Russian Olympic champion Alexander Karelin, former wrestler, listens during a parliament session in Moscow, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013. Karelin noted in an interview with Vyes' Sport that Russians and Soviets have won 77 gold medals. "It's understandable that a lot of people didn't like this," Karelin said. "I'm not a supporter of conspiracy theory, but it seems to me that the underlying cause here is obvious." While wrestling will be included at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, it was cut from the games in 2020, which have yet to be awarded to a host city. (AP Photo)
February 13, 2013 - 6:44 AM
LAUSANNE, Switzerland - IOC President Jacques Rogge says he will meet with the head of wrestling's governing body to discuss ways the sport can fight to save its place in the 2020 Olympics.
The IOC executive board dropped wrestling from the program of the 2020 Games on Tuesday, removing it from the list of 26 sports contested at last year's London Olympics.
The decision, which still must be ratified by the full IOC in September, has been widely criticized by wrestling organizations around the world.
Rogge says he has been contacted by Raphael Martinetti, the president of international wrestling federation FILA.
He says "we agreed we would meet at the first opportunity to have discussions."
Rogge says he was encouraged that FILA had "vowed to adapt the sport and vowed to fight to be eventually included in the 2020 slot."
News from © The Associated Press, 2013