He should have lost with diligence to avoid being pitted against Israel Muki in the final and that he was ordered by Deputy Iranian Sports Minister Davar Zani to withdraw from the championship.
- If I had competed further I would have had problems, says Mollaei in one of the IJF's own broadcasts.
Later, the President of the Iranian Olympic Committee, Reza Salehi Amiri, also called Mollaei and said security forces were in place at his parents' house, according to the AP.
Mollaei fled from his home country and during the day IOK announced that a national change has been granted for the Olympics and Mollaei will compete for Mongolia.
Since Mollaei has been registered as a refugee with the IOC, he does not have to wait the three years, which one usually needs to do, to change the nation to compete for.