Iranian weightlifter is given lifetime ban by Islamic regime after he shook hands with Israeli competitor at international event

 ‘The weightlifting federation bans athlete Mostafa Rajaei for life from entering all sports facilities in the country and dismisses the head of the delegation for the competition, Hamid Salehinia,’ the body announced in a statement cited by state news agency IRNA.  In 2021, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged athletes ‘not to shake hands with a representative of the (Israeli) criminal regime to obtain a medal’. For years, Iranian athletes have managed to avoid meeting Israelis in competitions, often by getting disqualified or providing medical certificates testifying that they were unwell. Young chess prodigy Alireza Firouzja left Iran after the sport’s federation banned him from playing in the 2019 World Championship for fear he would face an Israeli player. He is now a naturalised French citizen. The post Iranian weightlifter is given lifetime ban by Islamic regime after he shook hands with Israeli competitor at international event appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.