Visa Problems Prevent Russians From Coming Situation In Kosovo Impacts Wrestling Event In Spokane

The Russian freestyle wrestling team will not compete in this weekend’s World Cup.

Three team members were unable to obtain visas and the Russian wrestling federation decided not to enter an incomplete team.

“It’s kind of one of those things,” said World Cup promoter Toby Steward, president of Star USA in Spokane. “It does make you realize that things across the globe effect us back here.”

Steward said the World Cup will be fine with five teams, even without Russia, one of the top three teams in the world.

Russia is the defending World Cup champion after capturing the 1998 team title in Stillwater, Okla.

“They were not bringing their top guns anyway,” said Steward. “The bottom line is it will still be a great event.”

The bombing in Kosovo and subsequent protest in Moscow forced closure of the U.S. Embassy there. As a result, the wrestlers in question were unable to obtain their visas.

“We are disappointed,” said Jim Scherr, USA Wrestling executive director. “We understand that the situation in Europe is volatile at this time and there was difficulty getting the Russians to the United States.

“We look forward to competing against Russia very soon in another international event.”

The absence of the Russian team resulted in a revised schedule. Team USA will wrestle twice instead of three times. Instead of wrestling the Russians in the Friday night feature, the U.S. will face Cuba, which has six national medalists.