Azerbaijan’s veteran weightlifter Zulfugar Suleymanov (M40, 67 kg) shares his thoughts with Idman.biz after his golden success.
– You just won gold at the European Masters Weightlifting Championships in Durrës, Albania. How does it feel to experience such joy again in the same country after a 12-year break?
– It’s an incredible feeling. Twelve years ago, I won bronze at the European Championships in Tirana among the seniors. To represent my country again in Albania after so long — and to become champion — is beyond words. When our national anthem played, I was moved to tears. Returning to sport after all this time with such a result is truly special.
– How would you evaluate the championship overall?
– It was a major event with over 1,000 participants. Honestly, I didn’t expect this result from myself. I managed to do what I couldn’t even achieve in training back in Baku, and I broke the European record. That was my dream — to put the Azerbaijani name into the record books. This achievement will remain in history, especially since weight classes will change next month, making it impossible to break this record in the same category. It was also a good championship for our team: we’re bringing home two golds and two silvers, four medals in total.
– Twelve years ago, you were disqualified for doping. What made you decide to return to the sport after all this time?
– My fellow athletes often told me I needed to make a comeback, to start fresh. As you know, I was banned many years ago, but I fought hard because I couldn’t accept it. I repeatedly appealed to international courts, and finally, last March, my lifetime ban was lifted. I had been away from the sport for 12 years. Back then, there were certain disputes between our federation and the international federation, and about 30 of our athletes were implicated in doping scandals. It was clearly biased. Some chose not to fight, but I kept pushing to the end.
– When did you start preparing for the championship?
– I began training last November. It all started during a birthday gathering with friends, when someone suggested I give it another try. I decided to go for it — and I’m glad the hard work paid off.
– What were you doing during your time away from sport?
– I worked as an inspector at Azerbaijan Airlines. Since I was banned, I couldn’t pursue an athletic career.
– What are your plans going forward?
– I want to contribute to Azerbaijani sport as a coach.
– Twelve years away from the sport — that must have been tough.
– It was very difficult, extremely painful. It was a stain not only on my name but on my family’s name. As you know, we are one of Azerbaijan’s biggest sporting families — nine brothers, five of whom are world and European medalists and champions. No one in our family has ever been involved in doping. With my victory in Durrës, I proved once again that everything we have achieved has been through our own strength. I’ve cleared the stain from both my name and my family name.
Aytaj Sahed
Idman.biz
