“Unfortunately, this European Championships will take place without my participation,” the Russian wrote on social media. “I was charged, focused and ready, but right at the border I was denied entry to Romania – didn’t like my visa. It’s kind of weird how it works out. In Spain, from where I flew to Bucharest, there were no questions for me”
“All is the Will of the Almighty. Thank you for your support. We will learn lessons and move on. I wish all our guys good luck and, most importantly, no injuries!”
Last September, Sadulaev suffered a sensational defeat at the World Championships in Belgrade, failing to finish the semifinal match in the 97 kg weight category against his school pupil Akhmed Tazhudinov, and in January the Russian opened the new season with a victory at the Ivan Yarygin Memorial Tournament in Krasnoyarsk.
Abdulrashid Sadulaev, 27, became an Olympic champion in 2016 and 2021, winning gold in the 86-kg and 97-kg weight categories, respectively.