A new scandal struck the Moldovan sport. After the weightlifters, the leaders of the national judo team are also willing to represent another country.

”There is a serious problem at the national judo squad, which has a new coach. Four athletes, including Sergiu Toma, Ion Remarenco, and Vadim Bocan, together with the former coach of the national team Vasile Colta went to train in Uzbekistan. But we suspect that they want to compete for another country,” acting Minister of Youth and Sport Octavian Ticu said, quoted by IPN.

Weightlifter Cristina Iovu, who medaled bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, and Iurie Dudoglo have been in Azerbaijan for a period. They want to represent this country in competitions. “As regards Dudoglo and Iovu, they signed no transfer and I ordered no longer providing them with scholarships,” said Ticu.

In order to avoid such situations in the future, the Ministry of Youth and Sport intends to sign contracts with sportspersons financed by the state.

Furthermore, the best judo players and weightlifters of Moldova will not compete in the European championships this year. “I do not understand why these athletes who are financed by the state do not take part in major competitions,” said the minister.

The European Judo Championships will take place in Hungary at the end of April, while the European Weightlifting Championships start in Albania on April 8.