Radio Farda:

Iran's powerlifting silver medalist in Asia, Amir Mohammad Shahnavazi says, he has decided not to return to his country and will stay in France in protest to corruption.

In a video published on Shahnavazi's Instagram account, he has argued that since several officials of the Islamic Republic are "incompetent" and "thieves", "eating away Iran, like leprosy," he has decided not to return to his country.

Shahnavazi won the Asian silver medal for press lift in 83kg class junior category last year in the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking exclusively to Radio Farda, the young powerlifter from the province of Sistan&Baluchestan, southeast Iran, said that he had never received a reward and personally paid all the expenses for participating in international powerlifting events.

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