TSARUKIAN FIRED SAMVEL ALEXANIAN

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[07:31 pm] 14 October, 2008

Armenian Olympic Committee president Gagik Tsarukian announced today
that NA deputy Samvel Alexanian is no longer the president of the
Armenian Wrestling Federation and former chief police officer-turned
RA president bodyguard chief Hayk Harutyunian will no longer occupy
the post of president of the Armenian Boxing Federation.

The year is not over yet; however, the Armenian Olympic Committee and
the Sports Ministry held a meeting today with heads of the federations
and trainers of Armenia in the hall of the Physical Education State
Institute to report on the work completed.

Gagik Tsarukian was only satisfied with the weightlifting federation,
but he feels that there is a need for radical changes in other
sports. Tsarukian gave the federation leaders ten days to present
proposals for the changes, yet he also announced today that Samvel
Alexanian will no longer head the wrestling federation, Hrant Yenokian
is no longer the freestyle trainer, Hayk Harutinian will not be the
chief trainer of the boxing federation, while chief trainer of the
boxing team Rafael Mehrabian retired.

Gagik Tsarukian also complained about a number of sport
schools. Tsarukian believes that if the sport school doesn’t win
at least one bronze medal in four years, then it’s time to change
the director.

Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Armen Grigoryan also made a
speech and mentioned that the six medals won during the Olympics were
a sign of progress compared to the previous Olympics, but there were
some shortcomings and if no work is done, it will be very difficult
to achieve success in the next games.