Wrestling athletes against the federation on the issue of Pilidis: “Disgusting behavior towards him”

THE Panhellenic Association of Wrestling Sports Athletes denounces with his announcement the behavior of the federation against Yorikas Pilidis. After reporting that the world champion was punished and fined by the federation, his rejoining the team before the European Championships is characterized as a sham, as he himself will be completely unprepared after many months of abstinence.

The announcement in detail:

“On the occasion of tomorrow’s participation of wrestling champion Giorgos Pilidis in the qualifying matches for the Pan-European Men’s Championship in Croatia, the Panhellenic Association of Wrestling Sports Athletes condemns the lack of respect shown by the Hellenic Wrestling Federation in the face of such a great athlete.

The disciplinary penalty imposed on him by the Hellenic Wrestling Federation was annulled by a decision of the Supreme Council for the Resolution of Sports Disputes on April 5, 2023. On April 12, 2023, i.e. 7 days later, the Technical Committee of the Hellenic Wrestling Federation decided on his inclusion in the Federation’s sports planning . However, a necessary condition for his inclusion would be, as stated by ELOP, his participation in the European Men’s Championship in Croatia which will be held on April 15, 2023, i.e. just 3 days after the invitation of the ELOP Technical Committee to Giorgos Pilidis.

Of course, the decision of Giorgos Pilidis to participate even under these conditions clearly demonstrates the greatness of this athlete as well as how spiteful were all those who punished him and punished him unfairly. But this despicable behavior never stopped. As this athlete was called literally at the last moment to decide whether to rejoin the sport or not. Is this how the Hellenic Wrestling Federation protects the athletes? By literally putting the knife to the throat and communicating this unacceptable behavior to the mass media as an intention on her part to give the possibility “to all athletes to prove their worth in the arena, to represent Greece”? And all this by a decision exclusively of the Technical Committee as proposed?

We wonder how it is possible for an athlete who was unfairly banned, as it turned out, by the Hellenic Wrestling Federation, for a period of about 6 months, to return within just 3 days and compete. How is it possible that this decision, humiliating for the athlete and unprecedented for sports data, has been taken by the Technical Committee alone? Where is ELOP’s Board of Directors? Why was he not informed from April 5 or even 6, 2023, when the decision of the ASEAD concerning him was issued?

Our Association unequivocally condemns these actions whose sole aim is to harm the psychology and performance of a great athlete, who by deciding to participate at any cost proves that Greece was, is, and will be the birthplace of great athletes.

With respect, the president of the Association, Petros Manuelidis”