Iranian athlete Mustafa Rajayi Langrudi has been banned for life from participating in sports competitions and entering sports centres.

Axar.az reports that the "Tasnim" news agency published information about this.

This was caused by the athlete taking a commemorative photo with the representative of Israel during the presentation of medals at the World Weightlifting Championship held in Poland.

The Weightlifting Federation of the Islamic Republic has dismissed Hamid Salehiniya, the head of the Iranian team sent to Poland.

In its statement on the issue, the federation stressed that stricter punishment measures will be applied against Iranian athletes who have any form of communication with Israeli athletes.