Armwrestler sends lookalike to weigh-in

A Russian armwrestler was disqualified for cheating at a European competition after attempting to move to a lower weight class by sending a lookalike to the weigh-in, officials said Thursday.

Arsen Liliev tried to enter the 154-pound weight class at the European championships being held in Lycksele, northern Sweden, but weighed 4.4 pounds too much, said Andreas Johansson, chairman of the Swedish Armsport Association.

Liliev decided to try again, but this time he sent a "lookalike" to replace him at the weigh-in, Johansson said. The impostor, who was also Russian, passed the weight control, but officials discovered the fraud before the competition started, he said.

"They resemble each other but it didn't work," Johansson said. "Arsen Liliev is disqualified from the competition while the other competitor received a warning."

The European championships end Sunday.