Alireza Karimi

{{short description|Iranian freestyle wrestler}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| headercolor = #A2BADC

| name = Alireza Karimi

| image = Alireza Karimi Rio2016.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Karimi at the 2016 Summer Olympics

| birth_name =

| fullname = Alireza Karimi Machiani

| nickname =

| native_name = {{lang|fa|علیرضا کریمی ماچیانی}}

| nationality = {{IRN}}

| residence =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|03|21|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Karaj,{{Cite web |url=http://radiovarzesh.ir/NewsDetails/?m=080001&n=376700/ |title=علیرضا کریمی و سیر موفقیت در کشتی |publisher=Radio Varzesh IRIB |date=30 January 2019 }} Iran

| height = {{convert|1.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}}[https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/alireza-mohammad-karimimachiani Alireza Mohammad Karimimachiani] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826111942/https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/alireza-mohammad-karimimachiani |date=2016-08-26 }}. rio2016.com

| weight = 198 lbs (90 kg)

| website =

| country = Iran

| sport = Freestyle wrestling

| event =

| collegeteam =

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| team =

| turnedpro =

| coach = Mohammad Kermani[http://results.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=karimimachiani-alireza-mohammad-1133456/index.html Alireza Mohammad Karimimachiani] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920030943/http://results.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=karimimachiani-alireza-mohammad-1133456/index.html |date=2016-09-20 }}. nbcolympics.com

| retired =

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| worlds =

| regionals =

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| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{IRI}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}

{{MedalSilver| 2019 Nur-Sultan| 92 kg}}

{{MedalBronze| 2015 Las Vegas| 86 kg}}

{{MedalBronze|2018 Budapest|92 kg}}

{{MedalCompetition |Asian Games}}

{{MedalGold | 2018 Jakarta | 97 kg}}

{{MedalCompetition|Asian Championships}}

{{MedalGold|2015 Doha|86 kg}}

{{MedalGold|2017 New Delhi|86 kg}}

{{MedalGold|2019 Xi'an|92 kg}}

{{Medal|Silver| 2023 Astana |86 kg}}

{{MedalCompetition|Islamic Solidarity Games}}

{{MedalGold|2021 Konya|86 kg}}

}}

Alireza Karimi Machiani ({{langx|fa| علیرضا کریمی ماچیانی}}; born 21 March 1994) is an Iranian freestyle wrestler. He won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships in the 86 kg division.{{Cite web |url=http://www.irna.ir/en/News/81756234/ |title=Iran's Karimi snatches bronze in World Wrestling Championships |publisher=IRNA |date=12 September 2015 |access-date=13 September 2015}}{{Cite news |title=World Wrestling Championships: Iran's Karimi claims bronze medal |newspaper=Tehran Times |date=13 September 2015 |url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=249341 |access-date=13 September 2015}} He was eliminated by J'den Cox of the United States in the third bout at the 2016 Olympics. He is the 2018 Asian Games Champion in the 97 kg division and also won gold medals in the Asian Championships in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

In February 2018 the United World Wrestling banned Karimi for six months for deliberately throwing a match to avoid having to face an Israeli opponent, Uri Kalashnikov who went on to win the bronze medal.[http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sports/Iranian-wrestler-banned-for-avoiding-Israeli-542907 Iranian wrestler banned for avoiding Israeli – Israel News – The Jerusalem Post] He thereby violated International Wrestling Rules and the UWW Disciplinary Regulations, by intentionally losing to a Russian competitor in the quarterfinal of the U-23 World Championship in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in the 86-kilogram category, in November 2017.[https://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-wrestler-who-threw-match-to-avoid-israeli-banned-for-6-months/ Iranian wrestler who threw match to avoid Israeli banned for 6 months | The Times of Israel] Karimi was then supposed to face the Israeli, Kalashnikov, in the repechage (to compete for the bronze medal), but he forfeited that match.[https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2017/12/4/16721628/video-iranian-wrestler-throws-match-avoid-match-up-israeli-counterpart-iran-israel-wrestling-news Video: Iranian wrestler throws match to avoid match-up with Israeli counterpart - Bloody Elbow] Karimi’s coach, Hamidreza Jamshidi, was also banned, in his case for two years, for instructing Karimi to lose, shouting from the sidelines: "Ali Reza, lose."[https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/11/29/567136693/iranian-wrestler-throws-match-to-avoid-facing-israeli-in-next-round Iranian Wrestler Throws Match To Avoid Facing Israeli In Next Round : The Two-Way : NPR] Karimi told the Iranian Students News Agency that he purposefully lost to avoid the risk of competing against the Israeli.[https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2017/11/28/iranian-wrestler-alireza-karimi-admits-he-threw-match-avoid-facing-israeli/900608001/ Iranian wrestler Alireza Karimi admits he threw match to avoid Israeli], USA Today. Iran's wrestling federation had praised Karimi for throwing the match.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the Iranian regime for its actions, and accused it of interfering in sports and pressuring its athletes to not compete against the Israelis, saying "hating others will never make you a champion. It only makes you a pathetic and insecure loser."[http://www.tmz.com/2017/12/04/israel-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-iran-wrestler-throws-match/ Benjamin Netanyahu Blasts Iran for Making Wrestler Throw Match | TMZ.com] Iran Wrestling Federation president Rasoul Khadem said: "The federation will protest the verdict ... During his six-month ban, Karimi Mashiani can take part in domestic competitions and in the final stage of the national team selection. His ban will be over before the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and the World Championship."[https://www.samaa.tv/sports/2018/02/iran-protests-ban-wrestler-threw-bout-avoid-israeli/ Iran protests ban on wrestler who threw bout to avoid Israeli – Samaa TV]