Judo athlete sent home from Olympics after refusing to fight Israeli
An Algerian judo athlete has been suspended and sent home from the Tokyo Olympics after refusing to face an Israeli opponent.
Fethi Nourine withdrew from the judo event in Tokyo on Friday to avoid a possible second-round matchup with Israel's Tohar Butbul in the men's 73 kg division.
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Nourine was drawn to face Sudan's Mohamed Abdalrasool in the opening round, with the winner set to face fifth seed Butbul.
On Saturday, the International Judo Federation's executive committee announced they had temporarily suspended Nourine and coach Amar Benikhlef.
They are likely to face sanctions beyond the Olympics, with the Algerian Olympic committee withdrawing both men's accreditation and making plans to send them home.
The IJF said Nourine's position was "in total opposition to the philosophy of the International Judo Federation.
"The IJF has a strict non-discrimination policy, promoting solidarity as a key principle, reinforced by the values of judo," they said.
Nourine and Benikhlef attribute their stance to their political support for Palestinians.
"My position is consistent on the Palestinian issue, and I reject normalisation, and if it cost me that absence from the Olympic Games, God will compensate"
- Fethi Nourine, Algerian judo athlete https://t.co/otPX9zh2TO— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) July 23, 2021
Iran currently suspended for stance on Israeli opponents
Nourine also quit the world judo championships in 2019 right before he was scheduled to face Butbul, who is a much more accomplished judo athlete than Nourine.
Those world championships were held in Tokyo at the Budokan, the site of the Olympic judo tournament.
Judo's world governing body has been firm in its anti-discrimination policies and strong support of Israel's right to compete in recent years.
In April, the IJF suspended Iran for four years because the nation refused to allow its fighters to face Israelis.
The IJF said Iran's policies were revealed when former Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei claimed he was ordered to lose in the semi-finals of the 2019 world championships to avoid potentially facing Israeli world champion Sagi Muki in the finals.
The IJF called Iran's policy "a serious breach and gross violation of the statutes of the IJF, its legitimate interests, its principles and objectives."
Iran's ban runs through September 2023.
The IJF aided Mollaei's departure for Germany after the controversy, and he now represents Mongolia.
He will compete on Tuesday at the Olympics.
Never against an Israeli. History repeats itself for the Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine: the draw put him back on the path of an Israeli athlete and once again, even in the most important competition, he retired.
"The Palestinian cause is greater than all this"🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️#TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/CPSaXRRGR9— Watchman (@Judmir3) July 23, 2021
Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine has quit Olympics after his match was against Isr-aeli judoka.
Nourine said "Im against the illegal state of isr-ael. we will not recognize the illegal Isr-aeli flag and we will not stain our hands with it" pic.twitter.com/n06GyJLA0J— Naina R. #MakeIslamophobiaACrime💜✊ (@NainaRaathore) July 23, 2021
@WorldJUDOFed what are you waiting to exclude Fethi Nourine from all competitions? What a disgusting behaviour...
— Geronimo Cohen (@tpoba) July 22, 2021
with agencies
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