04.11.2025 16:45
National wrestler Rıza Kayaalp announced that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) found him justified in his appeal against the 4-year ban he received, and that he will be able to compete again starting from January 1, 2026. With the decision made by CAS, Kayaalp's sentence was reduced from 4 years to 18 months.
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The world and European champion national wrestler Rıza Kayaalp was banned from competitions for 4 years by the ITA due to the use of medication he took to relieve his tinnitus and pain.
CAS UPHELD THE APPEAL AND LIFTED THE PENALTY
National wrestler Rıza Kayaalp announced that the Sports CAS found him justified in his appeal against the 4-year penalty he received and that he would be able to compete again starting from January 1, 2026. Following the decision of the Sports Arbitration Court (CAS) that opened the way for Rıza Kayaalp to return to the mat, a press conference was held at the Rıza Kayaalp and Taha Akgül Sports Complex with Taha Akgül, President of the Turkish Wrestling Federation, and Abdullah Çakmar, General Coordinator of ASKİ Sports Club.
'WE CAME OUT WITH OUR HEADS HELD HIGH'
Kayaalp, who expressed that he went through a tiring process for 1.5 years, said, "When this incident happened to me before the Paris 2024 Olympics, I was honestly very disappointed. I was so disappointed that for 5 days I couldn't eat properly or drink a glass of water. I knew that this process would wear me out a lot, but I wanted to do my best to fight. Because I had to prove that I did not do anything intentionally. We have been in the national team for 20 years, and we have been doing this sport for nearly 30 years. We have passed our tests in every championship we participated in, and thank God we came out with our heads held high from all of them," he stated.
'I USED THE MEDICATION FOR TINNITUS'
Kayaalp, who stated that he used the medication due to health issues (tinnitus), said, "I talked to doctors, I have a report, I have messages. It is a medication called Vastarel. It has no contribution to my performance, just like aspirin. I wanted to emphasize this especially. As a result, we entered into a significant legal battle. We were given a 4-year penalty by the ITA, and we took this to CAS. At CAS, our doctors, we, and witnesses were subjected to all kinds of questioning from morning till evening. We were interrogated thoroughly, including cross-examinations. As a result, thank God, it was proven that we were right. I am experiencing the joy and happiness of this. From January 1, I can continue in sports if I wish. The most important thing here is that I can explain myself there. Winning this case made me very happy. As one of the athletes who has won the most medals in wrestling, I proved that I did not do such a thing intentionally. I proved that I took it for my treatment. I wanted to share this happiness with you," he expressed.
'WE FOUGHT TOGETHER'
Thanking everyone who believed in and supported him during this process, Rıza Kayaalp said, "Really, throughout 1.5 years, every person I met on the street saying, 'We believe in you' gave me great happiness. Honestly, I was so happy to hear such things. The part that kept me most energized and happy was that. During this process, our club ASKİ Sports, our federation president Taha Akgül, and our lawyers were always by our side. We went through this process together, we fought together, and in the end, we all came out of this process victorious," he stated.
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