Ercegan announces that he will not run for re-election as FILA President; Martinetti named as candid
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/20/2002
Milan Ercegan of Yugoslavia, the long-time president of international wrestling federation FILA, has announced that he will not seek re-election as FILA president. A document, dated July 4, 2002 on FILA letterhead, and signed by Ercegan, said the following: ELECTION OF THE FILA PRESIDENT At the meeting of the FILA executive committee held on 22 June 2002 in Lausanne, I declared verbally that I withdrew my candidature for re-election as FILA President. Milan Ercegan FILA President The letter was included in a document sent to all national wrestling federations. USA Wrestling received its copy on July 18. Ercegan was first elected as FILA President in 1972, and has presided over the organization for 30 years. He is only the fifth president in the history of FILA, going back to 1921 when Einaar Raberg of Sweden became the first president. Also included in the materials sent to the national federations was an announcement that Raphael Martinetti of Switzerland was a candidate for the office of FILA President. No other candidates were identified in the literature. Martinetti is currently a Vice President of FILA, and serves on its Executive Committee. He has been a member of the FILA Bureau since 1982, and is currently the president of the FILA Refereeing Commission. He also is a member of several FILA Commissions.