Paris Olympics 2024: Wrestling Star Frank Chamizo Was Suspended by Cuba 13 Years Before Calling Out Bribery Allegations

Frank Chamizo has taken the wrestling world by storm, thirteen years after his fallout with Cuba. His bribery allegations have made the fans and athletes alike take notice. Eyeing an Olympic berth, Chamizo stated that he was offered a bribe of $300k to lose his bout against Turan Bayramov. However, Chamizo also pointed out that he refused to give in and thus, lost the match via a suspected foul play. 

However, this wasn’t the only instance of Chamizo riding the waves of controversy. The 31-year-old got into a scuffle with his homeland just when he was about to spread his career wings. He ended up getting suspended by Cuba, after which, Chimazo relocated to Italy.

Frank Chamizo left for Italy after suspension from Cuba

Frank Chamizo was born in Matanzas, Cuba. Although he had to fight extreme poverty, wrestling ran in his blood. His father was a national champion and Chamizo too, followed suit. After the initial years, his impeccable talents were recognized by none other than the Cuban government. Funding for his training, the government of Cuba soon got their money’s worth as Chamizo excelled at the international level. 

Competing at the World Championships in Moscow, Chamizo clinched the 55kg bronze back in 2010. Unfortunately, that was the beginning of the end of Chamizo’s relationship with Cuba. Citing issues with weight management, Chamizo was handed a twenty four month ban by the Cuban Wrestling Federation in 2011. Shocked to the core, Chamizo decided to leave his home country to start afresh in Italy. 

Reflecting on the fallout in Cuba, Chamizo stated, “When people don’t believe in you, they throw you out. Then you can say, “Look what you have missed.” He also mentioned that what happened in Cuba made him determined to succeed and answer them back through his performance. However, a look at his career graph would suggest that the move to Italy was indeed an intelligent one. 

Chamizo’s career at a glance

Riding high on confidence, Chamizo clinched two World Championship gold. Apart from his 2015 and 2017 gold rush, the 31-year-old is also the proud owner of an Olympic bronze medal that he won in 2016. Being a 4x European Champion, Chamizo is now eyeing an Olympic gold in the upcoming Paris Olympics. 

Although he lost against Turan Bayramov, Chamizo will have another chance to cement his selection. He will be competing in the world qualifications next month, scheduled to take place in Turkey. Thus, eyeing to break free from the shackles of controversy, it will be interesting to see whether Chamizo can break into Paris or not.