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Olympic wrestling champion Kyle Snyder was one of more than a dozen people arrested as part of a prostitution sting in Ohio.
Police in Columbus conducted an operation aimed at reducing prostitution in the city on Friday, and the 29-year-old Snyder was arrested in a hotel room for engaging in prostitution. He was released from custody at the scene.
Columbus police spokesperson Caitlyn McIntosh said officers had posted online ads last week to “solicit others to engage in sexual activity for hire”. Police said a man later identified as Snyder had replied to one of the postings and arranged to meet at a local hotel. Once there he paid money to an undercover officer and requested sexual services. Police said 15 other men were caught in the sting. Snyder is scheduled to appear in court on 19 May.
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Snyder is considered one of the best wrestlers of his generation, and was a college star at Ohio State, located in Columbus. While still at college he won an Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In college, he won three straight NCAA heavyweight titles between 2016 and 2018, and was later inducted into Ohio State’s athletics hall of fame. He also won an Olympic silver at the Tokyo Games in 2021 along with three world championship titles.
In 2018, Donald Trump appointed Snyder to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. This month Snyder signed up to Hulk Hogan’s Real American Freestyle wrestling league, which is due to start in August.
Snyder, Ohio State and the Real American Freestyle wrestling league have yet to comment publicly on his arrest.
