Artur Taymazov

Artur Borisovich Taymazov (Ossetian: Таймазты Барисы фырт Артур; Russian: Артур Борисович Таймазов; born 20 July 1979) is Uzbek-Russian wrestler and politician. He was Uzbekistan's most decorated Olympian before being stripped of two gold medals for doping.^[1] In 2016, he was elected to the 7th State Duma of the Russian Federation representing United Russia.^[2]

Artur Borisovich Taymazov
Таймазты Артур
Member of the State Duma for North Ossetia-Alania
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 October 2016
Preceded by	constituency re-established
Constituency	North Ossetia (No. 25)
Personal details
Born	(1979-07-22) 22 July 1979 (age 45) Nogir, North Ossetian ASSR, RSFSR, USSR
Nationality	Ossetian
Sports career
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	120 kg (265 lb)
Country	Uzbekistan and Russia
Sport	Wrestling
Event	Freestyle
Club	Dynamo Tashkent
Coached by	Salim Abduvaliev Akhrol Ruziev
Sports achievements and titles
Olympic finals	2000, 2004, 2008, 2012
Medal record Men's Freestyle Wrestling Representing  Russia 1998 World Youth Games {{{2}}} Representing  Uzbekistan Olympic Games 2000 Sydney 130 kg 2004 Athens 120 kg Disqualified 2008 Beijing 120 kg Disqualified 2012 London 120 kg World Championships 2001 Sofia 130 kg 2003 New York City 120 kg 2006 Guangzhou 120 kg 2007 Baku 120 kg 2010 Moscow 120 kg Asian Games 2002 Busan 120 kg 2006 Doha 120 kg 2010 Guangzhou 120 kg Asian Championships 2000 Guilin 130 kg 2011 Tashkent 120 kg

On 5 April 2017, it was announced that as a result of retesting samples he had been disqualified from the 2008 Olympics for a drug violation, and his gold medal was withdrawn.^[3] On 23 July 2019, it was announced that as a result of retesting samples he had been disqualified from the 2012 Olympics for a drug violation, and his gold medal from that event was also withdrawn.^[4] As both of his gold medals were re-allocated to Russian wrestlers, Taymazov said he was nonetheless happy to "bring" two golds to Russia.^[5]

Early life

In childhood, he was doing weightlifting but when he turned 11, a freestyle wrestling club opened in his village and he decided to wrestle. His older brother Tymur Taymazov was a 1996 Olympic Games champion in weightlifting, competing for Ukraine.

Olympics

2000 Sydney Olympics

Making his Olympic debut in Sydney in 2000, he won Uzbekistan's first Olympic wrestling medal in the 130 kg weight class, losing to Russian David Musul'bes in the final.

2004 Athens Olympics

In the 2004 Games in Athens he became Uzbekistan's first multiple-medalist after winning gold in the 120 kg weight class.

2008 Beijing Olympics

He successfully defended his 120 kg title in Beijing four years later, this time defeating Musul'bes in the semifinals, winning 3–0, 1–0 in the final against Russian Bakhtiyar Akhmedov. After his second olympic title in Beijing, he was honored in his country by the Buyuk Hizmatlari Uchun Order^[6] ("For Outstanding Services").

His urine sample was retested in 2016, and he was found to be taking a banned substance. Taymazov was stripped of his medal, and his 2008 results were disqualified.^[7]

2012 London Olympics

At the 2012 Games in London, he won his third consecutive Gold Medal by beating Davit Modzmanashvili of Georgia in the final 2–0.

On the athlete's page which introduced Taymazov, his height was wrongly shown as 1.75 m, but his actual height was 1.90 m.^[8]

On 23 July 2019, it was announced that as a result of retesting samples, Taymazov had been disqualified from the 2012 Olympics for a drug violation, and his gold medal from that event was withdrawn.^[4][9]

Results

Source:^[10]

#	Event	Rank
1	1998 World Youth Games	( Russia)
2	Wrestling at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Qualification
3	2000 Asian Championship
4	2000 Olympic
5	2001 World Championship
6	2002 World Championship	8th
7	2002 Asian Games
8	2003 World Championship
9	2004 Olympic
10	2005 World Championship	10th
11	2006 World Championship
12	2006 Asian Games
13	2007 World Championship
14	2008 Olympic	DSQ
15	2010 World Championship
16	2010 Asian Games
17	2011 Asian Championship
18	2011 World Championship	8th
19	Wrestling at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Qualification
20	2012 Olympic	DSQ

Politics

He has been a member of the State Duma since 2016, representing the North Ossetia constituency.

Sanctions

Sanctioned by Canada under the Special Economic Measures Act (S.C. 1992, c. 17) in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine for Grave Breach of International Peace and Security.^[11] and by the UK government in 2022 in relation to Russo-Ukrainian War.^[12]

References

1. "Uzbekistan wrestler Artur Taymazov stripped of gold medal from 2012 London Olympic Games over doping". Firstpost. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
2. В Госдуму прошел одномандатник из Северной Осетии Артур Таймазов (in Russian). Regnum. 19 September 2016.
3. "IOC sanctions three athletes for failing anti-doping test at Beijing 2008 and London 2012". IOC. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
4. "IOC sanctions one athletes for failing anti-doping test at London 2012". IOC. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
5. "Артур Таймазов: золота было много, но свой максимум так и не раскрыл - РИА Новости Спорт, 28.12.2018".
6. (in English) Uzbekistan Airways Inflight Magazine, n°4/2008, p54-55.
7. "Iran's Ghasemi new gold medalist of 2012 Olympics". Tehran Times. 11 November 2020.
8. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Artur Taymazov". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020.
9. "Artur Taymazov stripped of London 2012 gold for doping offence". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
10. "International Wrestling Database".
11. "Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations (SOR/2014-58)". Retrieved 24 June 2023.
12. "CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK" (PDF). Retrieved 16 April 2023.

External links

• Artur Taymazov at the International Wrestling Database (alternate link)
• Artur Taymazov at Olympics.com
• Artur Taymazov at Olympedia
• "Artur Taymazov at London2012.com". Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2012.