The International Judo Federation (IJF) decided on Saturday to suspend the Algerian champion Fathi Nourine and his coach after he withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics before the start of the tournament. He has withdrawn to avoid facing an Israeli competitor.
The IJF added in a statement that the withdrawal of Nourine contradicts its philosophy which has a strict policy on discrimination and the promotion of solidarity.
It opened an inquiry into this issue and withdrew the accreditation of Nourine and his coach and returned them to their country and would apply sanctions on them.
Speaking to an Algerian television station late Thursday Nourine said his political support for the Palestinian cause made it impossible for him to compete against an Israeli player.
Nourine was set to face Sudanese judoka Mohamed Abdalrasool coming Monday for his first bout and if he won he would proceed to a potential clash with the Israeli Tohar Butbul.
“My position is consistent on the Palestinian issue and I reject normalization even if it cost me the absence from the Olympic Games” he stressed.
This is the fourth time that the Algerian champion has withdrawn against a competitor from Israel as he pulled out from the third round of the World Judo Championship in 2019 in Japan to avoid facing the same player.
