Thirty-three-year-old Bulgarian wrestler Nikolay Shterev who is a former member of Bulgaria’s National Wrestling Team has lost the battle against Covid-19. Shterev passed away at a Sofia-based hospital on Wednesday morning. The athlete was admitted to hospital one month ago due to complications of Covid-19 and was placed on a mechanical ventilator. He has been in coma in the past three weeks. Nikolay Shterev is the son of Bulgaria’s legendary wrestler and coach Simeon Shterev who recovered from the virus.

Nikolay Shterev won Dan Kolov international wrestling tournament in 2011 in the 125 kilogram category. In 2018 he became national wrestling champion. In 2019 Nikolay Shterev was handed a four-year ban after he tested positive for the illegal substance Cardarine which practically ended his sports career.