Mohammad Reza Rodaki of Iran celebrates defeating Tamerlan Tmenov of Russia in their men's +100kg final of repechage judo match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (CHINA) 

Mohammad Reza Rodaki of Iran stands next to Tamerlan Tmenov of Russia during their men's +100kg final of repechage judo match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (CHINA) 

Paolo Bianchessi of Italy (R) fights Tamerlan Tmenov of Russia during their men's +100kg repechage judo match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (CHINA) 

Satoshi Ishii of Japan (L) fights Tamerlan Tmenov of Russia during their men's +100kg preliminary judo match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (CHINA) 

Pan Song of China (top) fights Tamerlan Tmenov of Russia during their men's +100kg preliminary judo match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (CHINA) 

A fan of Russia's Tamerlan Tmenov holds a Russian flag during +100 Kg final of the European Judo Championship in Lisbon April 13, 2008. REUTERS/Nacho Doce (PORTUGAL) 

Russia's Tamerlan Tmenov celebrates after winning +100 Kg of the European Judo Championship in Lisbon April 13, 2008. REUTERS/Nacho Doce (PORTUGAL) 

Russia's Tamerlan Tmenov reacts after winning the silver medal in the men's +100kg category at the World Judo Championships in Rio de Janeiro September 13, 2007. REUTERS/Bruno Domingos (BRAZIL) 

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) walks in front of Russia's Tamerlan Tmenov (R) and Alexander Mikhaylin during a medal ceremony at the men's European Open judo Championships in Moscow December 3, 2005. Tmenov won gold ahead of compatriot Mikhaylin who took silver. REUTERS/Viktor Korotayev 

Dennis van der Geest of the Netherlands celebrates after defeating [Russia's Tamerlan Tmenov ] to win the gold medal in the men's open category at the World Judo Championships in Cairo, September 11, 2005. 

Dennis van der Geest of the Netherlands celebrates after defeating Russia's Tamerlan Tmenov to win the gold medal in the men's open category at the World Judo Championships in Cairo, September 11, 2005. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji AJ/DY 

Dennis van der Geest of Netherlands and Russia's Tmenov compete in men's open category at World Judo Championships in Cairo. Dennis van der Geest (in blue) of the Netherlands and Russia's Tamerlan Tmenov compete in the men's open category bout at the World Judo Championships in Cairo, September 11, 2005. Dennis van der Geest won the gold medal. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji 

Dennis van der Geest (in blue) of the Netherlands looks on after defeating Russia's Tamerlan Tmenov in the men's open category bout at the World Judo Championships in Cairo, September 11, 2005. Dennis van der Geest won the gold medal. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji AJ/KI 

Russia's Tmenov and Brazil's Schilittler compete during men's open category bout at World Judo Championships in Cairo. Russia's Tamerlan Tmenov (L) and Brazil's Joao Gab Schilittler compete during their men's open category bout at the World Judo Championships in Cairo September 11, 2005. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji 

Russia's Tamerlan Tmenov (in blue) competes against Poland's Janus Wojnarowicz during their men's open category bout at the World Judo Championships in Cairo September 11, 2005. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji AJ/KI 

Yasuyuki Muneta (2nd L) of Japan shows off the gold medal after winning
the men's over 100kg category final of the World Judo Championships in
Osaka, western Japan September 11, 2003. Dennis Van Der Geest (L) of
the Netherlands took the silver. Yevgen Sotnikov of Ukraine and
Tamerlan Tmenov of Russia captured bronze medals. REUTERS/Kimimasa
Mayama

KM/DL 

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) receives a souvenir from Tamerlan Tmenov, coach of the Russian judo team, at the President's Cup Judo competition in the Ural's town of Magnitogorsk December 9, 2000. Putin opened the competition rooting for his old team on its way to victory.

CVI/CLH/ 

Tamerlan Tmenov of Russia struggles with Selim Tataroglu (Blue) of Turkey on his way to win a bronze medal in his men's over 100kg judo bout September 22, 2000.

JES 

Olympic Gold medalist David Douillet (2nd L) of France seen during the podium awards ceremony in the men's over 100kg judo final September 22, 2000. Douillet beat Shinichi Shinohara (L) of Japan who took silver, while both Indrek Pertelson of Estonia (2nd R) and Tamerlan Tmenov (R) of Russia took bronze medals.

JES