The Algerian Fethi Nourine, as well as his trainer, were suspended ten years by the International Judo Federation (IJF) for withdrawing from the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The toss had put the judoka on the path to a fight against an Israeli.
The 30-year-old was scheduled to face Sudanese Mohamed Abdalrasool for his first fight in the -73kg category and a victory would have seen him meet Israeli Tohar Butbul in the next round.
Nourine said her political support for the Palestinian cause prevented her from competing with Butbul.
The Algerian Olympic Committee had withdrawn the accreditation of Nourine and her trainer Amar Benikhlef and sent them home after the Tokyo Games. The IJF, which had temporarily suspended Nourine and Benikhlef, declared that the two men had used the Games ” as a platform for protest and promotion of political and religious propaganda », Which violated its code of ethics and the Olympic Charter.
They are banned from all IJF events and activities until July 23, 2031, although they can appeal their bans to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, according to decision of the IJF.
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