B.K., an athlete from CSM Târgu Mureș, encountered a serious case of discrimination during the Romanian national team’s training session on February 14, 2025. The training took place in Chișinău, and the incident was directly linked to D.Z., the coach of the Romanian freestyle wrestling team.
B.K., a member of the Romanian national team, was wearing a training shirt depicting Hungary during the session. Coach D.Z. instructed him to remove the shirt and wear only equipment displaying the Romanian national team emblem. According to B.K., this request was unfair, as other athletes, including a teammate wearing an emblem representing the United States, were not given a similar warning.
When B.K. pointed out this inconsistency, the coach made the following statement: “Yes, I do have a problem with Hungarians.” Following this, B.K. decided to leave the camp, as he could not accept such discriminatory treatment.
This was not the first conflict between B.K. and D.Z. The coach had previously criticized B.K.’s performance multiple times and questioned his absences, despite B.K. having justified reasons for them. Additionally, the athlete feels that the coach has limited knowledge of freestyle wrestling, which has negatively impacted his recent results.
The situation worsened during the 2024 European Championships when D.Z. did not allow B.K.’s coach, F.Cs., to guide him from the edge of the mat and even publicly argued with him. B.K. felt that the coach’s behavior not only hindered him physically but also mentally.
According to the national team athlete, it is common practice in international training camps for athletes to exchange gear, yet the coach’s warning was subjective and personally motivated. Two days before the incident, B.K. had worn a shirt depicting Germany, and no one asked him to change it, raising further concerns about the consistency of the rules.
It is also worth mentioning that B.K. has participated in several prestigious competitions throughout his sports career, achieving the following results under different coaches: 2019: U17 World Championship silver medal (Coaches: F.K., B.S.); 2022: U23 European Championship second place (Coaches: F.K., B.S., Y.A.); 2023: U23 European Championship third place (Coach: F.K.).
However, in 2024, he failed to win a medal, and he believes that D.Z.’s coaching style, along with continuous demoralization and a toxic atmosphere, significantly affected his performance.
The Mikó Imre Legal Protection Service strongly condemns the incident and urges the Romanian Wrestling Federation to take immediate action to resolve the matter. Discriminatory treatment has no place in sports, as all athletes should have equal opportunities, regardless of nationality or any other factor. Furthermore, the organization emphasizes that sports and coaching are not only about competition knowledge but also about respect and fair play. Any form of discrimination is unacceptable, and it is crucial for the national team to be led by a professionally competent and respectful coach.
Erika Benkő, head of the Mikó Imre Legal Protection Service, stated: “We are losing track of how many times this has happened in Romania—athletes being discriminated against or mistreated because of them being Hungarians, despite the fact that these individuals contribute significantly to the country’s reputation through their performances. We will immediately report this case to the relevant authorities, as such behavior is unacceptable and must be firmly stood up against in every instance. I commend the athlete’s firm stance against the discrimination he faced and for reaching out to us. We will report the matter to the Anti-Discrimination Council and demand the strictest possible measures against the coach.”