Apak was a member of Fenerbahçe Athletics in Istanbul then transferred to Enkaspor, where he was coached by Artun Talay.

The 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) tall athlete at 115 kg (254 lb) was a student of physical education and sports at Gazi University in Ankara.

After a series of doping-related disqualifications he moved up to second place after the gold medalist Koji Murofushi of Japan.

However as he had been suspended from the sport for doping offenses since 2004, the IOC decided not to award the both silver and bronze medals.

Eşref Apak is married to sprinter Sema Aydemir, and the couple has a son Ali.