Yazdani

Martinetti says he fears Azerbaijan will loses its wrestling traditions with the influx of Russian legionaires.

http://sport.apa.az/en/news.php?id=28526

Dart Shark

I noticed this with some of the women at the Worlds when I was in Baku. Several Russians/Uzbeks competing for Azerbaijan.

I mean, the sheer physical make-up of these folks raised a red flag. I didn't see a single blonde-haired Azerbaijan resident in the two weeks I was there, except on the wrestling mats, where I saw two.

I think it's a valid point, thanks for posting this.

__________________

The Salad Monster would dominate the Cookie Monster.

Big

Its the same as the influx of illegal and legal immigrants in America destroying American jobs. Since wrestling for those guys is a profession, they simply learn from the best.

Big

Also the title of this topic is misleading. Azerbaijan is destroying its own program not the wrestlers. Azerbaijan can effectively block these wrestlers from competing for Azerbaijan but in fact Azerbaijan has asked Russia to allow wrestlers to come there and compete for them.