Tokyo 2020 - Algerian judoka and coach receive ten-year ban after refusing to fight Israeli at Olympics

ByHarry Latham Coyle

Published 14/09/2021 at 14:38 GMT

Fethi Nourine has received a decade-long ban from the International Judo Federation after pulling out of the men's 73kg class after the draw put him on course to face Israel's Tohar Butbul. Nourine has said his support for Palestine made it impossible to compete against Butbul, and the Algerian Olympic Committee withdrew accreditation for him and his coach, sending them home from the Games.

Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine and his coach have each received a ten-year ban after refusing to fight an Israeli competitor at Tokyo 2020.

Nourine and Amar Benikhlef have had the decade-long suspensions levied against them by the International Judo Federation (IJF).

The 30-year-old withdrew from the men's 73kg class after the draw put him on course to fight Tohar Butbul in the second round.

Tokyo 2020

“I do it with love” – Aldass proud to have represented world’s refugees and her children in Tokyo

02/08/2021 at 17:06

Nourine said that his political support for Palestine made it impossible to compete against Butbul.

• Hayward: Farewell Tokyo 2020 - you were a Games truly unlike any other
• Tokyo 2020's Standout Moments
• Tokyo 2020 Medal Table

That caused the Algerian Olympic Committee to send both he and Benikhlef home from Japan having had their Olympic accreditations revoked.

It was not the first time that Nourine has withdrawn from competition in such a manner - in 2019, the Algerian pulled out of the world championships in Tokyo having similarly been set to face an Israeli opponent.

At the 2016 Olympics, Islam El Shehaby of Egypt quit the sport having refused to shake the hand of Or Sasson, the Israeli +100kg competitor who had beaten him in the first round in Rio de Janeiro.

The IJF said that Nourine and Benikhlef had used the Olympics "as a platform for protest and promotion of political and religious propaganda".

'My kids told me to enjoy it' Refugee Judo athlete Sanda Aldass on competing at the Games

The body suspended Iran for four years in April after the nation put pressure on one of its fighters not to face an Israeli athlete.

Palestine is a de jure sovereign state, officially governed by the Palestine LIiberation Organization and claiming the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

However, in practice, administrative control is only held partially over the 167 "islands" of the West Bank, and the entirety of the territory claimed has been occupied by Israel since 1967.

The State of Palestine is recognized by 138 of the 193 members of the United Nations, and has had UN non-member, observer state status since 2012.

Tokyo 2020

French judo star Riner suffers shock early defeat, settles for bronze

30/07/2021 at 09:58

Tokyo 2020

Judo Women -78kg Final - Tokyo 2020 - Olympic Highlights

00:01:35

|

29/07/2021 at 12:49

Tokyo 2020

Judo Men -100kg Final - Tokyo 2020 - Olympic Highlights

00:01:35

|

29/07/2021 at 12:48