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An Algerian judo athlete will be sent home after the Tokyo Olympics after withdrawing from competition to avoid potentially facing an Israeli opponent.
Fethi Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef told Algerian media they were stepping down on Monday to avoid a possible second round match with Israeli Tohar Butbul in the men’s 73kg division. Nourine faced Sudanese Mohamed Abdalrasool in the first round, with the winner taking on fifth-seeded Butbul.
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The executive committee of the International Judo Federation has temporarily suspended Nourine and Benikhlef, who risk facing sanctions beyond the Olympics, which began on Saturday. The Algerian Olympic committee then withdrew the accreditation of the two men and planned to send them home.
The IJF said Nourine’s position was “in complete opposition to the philosophy of the International Judo Federation. The IJF has a strict policy of non-discrimination, promoting solidarity as a key principle, reinforced by the values of judo “.
Nourine and Benikhlef attribute their position to their political support for the Palestinians.
Nourine also left the World Judo Championships in 2019 just before facing Butbul, who is a much more accomplished judo athlete than Nourine. These world championships were held in Tokyo at the Budokan, site of the Olympic judo tournament.
The world judo governing body has been firm in its anti-discrimination policies and has strongly supported Israel’s right to compete in recent years.
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In April, the IJF suspended Iran for four years because the nation refused to allow its fighters to confront the Israelis. The IJF said Iran’s policies came to light when former Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei claimed he was ordered to lose in the semi-finals of the 2019 world championships in Tokyo to avoid potentially face Israeli world champion Sagi Muki in the final.
The IJF called Iran’s policy “a serious and flagrant violation of the IJF’s statutes, its legitimate interests, its principles and objectives.” Iran’s ban runs until September 2023.
The IJF helped Mollaei leave for Germany after the controversy, and he now represents Mongolia. He will participate in the Olympics on Tuesday.
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