Dear Sirs, WAF leadership,

Since the Armwrestling Professional League and the Unified Rating of Professional Armwrestling (URPA) have always declared and declare their adherence to the basic principles and rules of the WAF;

Since the Armwrestling Professional League and the Unified Rating of Professional Armwrestling (URPA) have always respected and support WAF / WADA anti-doping measures;

Since the Armwrestling Professional League and the Unified Rating of Professional Armwrestling (URPA) are engaged in organizing sports events, developing and promoting professional arm wrestling and not only does not compete with WAF, but rather creates professional career opportunities exclusively for adult athletes, most of whom have achieved their first successes at WAF events;

Taking into account all of the above, the last official letter distributed by the WAF management, prohibiting WAF certified referees from refereing sports events unauthorized by WAF or its members, as well as directly PAL / URPA events, causes us confusion and disappointment.

In connection with this ban, we have a few questions: 

Is WAF going to extend this ban to athletes participating in PAL / URPA events?

Does this ban apply to tournaments in Moldova that are supported by WAF, but not in accordance with WAF rules? 

Why does WAF not mind when American WAF referees referee WAL events?

PAL / URPA has already signed a number of contracts with national federations that are representatives of the WAF. Can this be considered authorization by the WAF?

We consider this prohibition to be a hasty step on the part of the WAF management, which limits the capabilities of its certified referees, at the moment when WAF is not able to even compensate their expenses for participating in the World and European Championships.

This step can have the worst consequences for WAF and armwrestling in general.

Today we receive numerous calls from referees and organizers from around the world.

We officially declare that the ban is discriminatory and violates the rights of both the referees and the independent organizers.

We demand to immediately cancel this rash and harmful for the sport ban!

PAL / URPA will continue its development, as well as the training program for judges, athletes and organizers no matter what.

The sole purpose of this letter is to prevent the collapse of WAF due to the actions of its current leadership.

Kirill Yakovlev
PAL Communications