Leaders of the International Olympic Committee have dropped wrestling from the list of sports guaranteed to be included in the 2020 games.

The surprise decision removes one of the oldest Olympic sports, dating back to the first modern games in Athens in 1896.

"This is not a case of what's wrong with wrestling," said IOC spokesman Mark Adams. "It's what's right with the 25 core sports. And that, I think is the way that we, the IOC, will look at it."

Bridgeport, Ohio native and former Olympic wrestler and coach Bobby Douglas did not mince words.

"I'm raising hell now and I'm going to raise a lot more hell," Douglas told NEWS9's Eric Minor in a telephone interview. "This is not right."

Douglas believes money is driving the decision, claiming that other sports which generate more revenue for the games and for sports equipment manufacturers have undue influence on which games remain core sports.

"The shoe people are lobbying for track and field," said Douglas. "We don't have anybody like that in wrestling."

Douglas has remained an advocate of Olympic development wrestling programs, most recently helping the Sportatorium in Steubenville get accreditation as an official USA Wrestling Olympic training center.

Sportatorium owner Mike Smith was blindsided by the IOC's announcement.

"Kids that are 14, 15 or 16 years old (2020) is their Olympics," said Smith. "A wrestler's peak is at 24 or 25 years old. What a bad day for a kid to hear that sort of thing. He's trying to shoot for a gold medal. That would have to be heartbreaking for a kid that age."

Douglas is calling on members of the amateur wrestling community to "attack the problem."

"Call your Congressman. Call your Senator," said Douglas. "Write letters and emails. Flood the Olympic Committee with your disagreement."

A Facebook campaign called "Keep Wrestling in the Olympics" was gathering followers rapidly on Tuesday. An online petition to ask the president to intervene is also gathering support.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Keepwrestlingintheolympics/?ref=ts&fref=ts

Smith believes the sport's American governing body will intervene.

"I called USA Wrestling this morning," said Smith. "They're definitely concerned. (The world tournament) is in a week and a half. They're going to plead their case."

While wrestling has been eliminated from the list of core sports, there is a chance it could earn a spot in the 2020 games. Wrestling will have to compete with seven other sports for one spot in the 2020 program.

IOC officials will review those sports on nearly 40 criteria including popularity, finances and the number of tickets sold. Some of the other sports vying for that single spot include baseball, softball and rollersports.

The IOC is expected to take a formal vote on the recommendation in September.