Iranian Paralympic Weightlifter Expelled from National Team for 'Public Disturbance'

Majid Farzin, the gold medalist from the London Paralympics, has been expelled from the national team's camp due to 'public disturbance.' He was accused of 'lying' for criticizing the camp's conditions and the unrealistic promises made by officials. Following his expulsion, he has been summoned to the disciplinary committee for explanations. Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa, who has been the head of the Paralympic Committee and the Federation of the Disabled and Veterans, has been in this position for a total of 30 years, making him a record holder in managing a sports federation. Critics have often attributed the behavior of intolerance to criticism and the elimination of dissenters in the sports sector to Khosravi Vafa, who frequently claims, 'I am a worker of the people' in his speeches and interviews. The National Paralympic Committee released a statement regarding Farzin's comments, stating that they not only constitute public disturbance but are outright lies. Farzin told ISNA news agency that the substandard training hall provided for them resembles a mental hospital and does not create a good psychological environment for Paralympic athletes. The London Paralympic gold medalist also criticized the technical conditions of the camp and the coaching staff, stating that apart from Siamand Rahman, who is a hopeful for a gold medal, he doubts the others can easily win gold medals. Farzin also mentioned that he has not yet received his Paralympic salary, stating that since he secured his quota in February 2016, no payments have been made to him or any of the weightlifters. This disabled weightlifter, who also holds a silver medal from the Beijing Paralympics, recalled that the support fund for champions used to pay him 900,000 tomans for two Olympic medals, but this payment has been cut off for five months. The National Paralympic Committee rejected all criticisms, stating that this weightlifter had received a wild card through significant efforts from the committee and that a total of 10 million tomans had been deposited into his account. The committee deemed Farzin's criticisms of the coaching staff as 'completely false statements and defamation' against the national team's coach. The quality of the national team's training hall is considered 'acceptable and satisfactory' by the National Paralympic Committee. Farzin, who was preparing for the 2016 Paralympics, has been expelled from the training camp 'until further notice' and must attend a disciplinary committee meeting.