Jul 24, 2021 - Sports

Algerian judo athlete withdraws from match against Israeli opponent

Erin Doherty

Judokas compete during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on July 24, 2021. Photo: Franck Fife / AFP

An Algerian judo athlete is being sent home from the Tokyo Olympics after he withdrew from a match to avoid a possible competition against an Israeli opponent, AP reports.

Driving the news: Fethi Nourine and his coach, Amar Benikhlef, told Algerian media they were withdrawing to avoid a potential second-round matchup on Monday with Israel’s Tohar Butbul in the men’s 73 kg division, per AP.

The International Judo Federation's executive committee temporarily suspended the Algerian pair and they are likely to face sanctions beyond the Olympics, per AP.
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," per AP.
The Algerian Olympic committee took away Nourine and Benikhlef's accreditation and arranged for them to be sent home.

The big picture: Nourine and Benikhlef attributed their decision to withdraw to their political support for Palestinians, per AP.

Nourine also withdrew from the World Judo Championships in 2019 before he was scheduled to face Butbul, who is considered a more accomplished judo athlete than Nourine.

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Algerian judo athlete withdraws from match against Israeli opponent

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