However, because of the 1984 Summer Olympics boycott, Pashayan was denied participation. Instead, he and the other Soviet and Soviet-affiliated athletes competed at the 1984 Friendship Games. Pashayan came in first place every time at the contest.
He retired in 1985, undefeated in international competition.
Pashayan later became the President of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia.
Pashayan was a 1981 Summer Universiade Champion, a two-time European Champion, having won consecutive gold medals at the 1981 and 1982 FILA Wrestling European Championships, and a two-time and reigning World Champion, having also won consecutive gold medals at the 1982 and 1983 FILA Wrestling World Championships, making him the gold medal favorite of the Greco-Roman flyweight (52 kg) division at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Benur won a gold medal in wrestling at the Games. He later participated at the Grand Prix of Germany in 1984 and 1985, having previously won the competition in 1982.
