TEHRAN – Iranian weightlifter Mohammadreza Barari suffered a ruptured eardrum after being slapped by his coach in the 2018 World Weightlifting Championships.

Mohammadhossein Barkhah, Iran weightlifting coach, has reportedly slapped Barari in the face before an 109kg attempt in the competition to encourage him to have a better performance.

Barari finished in sixth place in the 109kg weight category in the 2018 World Weightlifting Championships held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Barari is getting treatment on his ruptured ear in the Sports Medicine Federation of Iran.