This archive report was first published on 24 July 2021.
On July 24, 2021, the International Judo Federation (IJF) suspended Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef from the Tokyo Olympics.
The suspension came after Nourine and Benikhlef withdrew from the competition to avoid meeting an Israeli athlete, citing their political support for the Palestinian cause.
According to the IJF, Nourine was due to face Sudan's Mohamed Abdalrasool in the men's 73 kg class, but a victory would have paired him with Israeli Tohar Butbul in the next round.
This is not the first time Nourine has withdrawn from competition to avoid facing an Israeli opponent, having done so at the 2019 world championships in Tokyo.
The IJF has a strict non-discrimination policy, promoting solidarity as a key principle, reinforced by the values of judo.
The Algerian Olympic Committee withdrew the accreditation for both Nourine and Benikhlef and would send them home, applying sanctions accordingly.
