Judo Worlds: spectators wearing a Russian patriotic emblem expelled

The spectators refused to remove their emblem and were expelled from the room, the IJF told AFP, confirming information from the Inside the games site.

The 2023 Judo Worlds, which take place until Sunday in Doha, are the first major international competition to have reintegrated Russian and Belarusian athletes after their exclusion due to the war in Ukraine. They were readmitted on an individual basis, as neutral athletes, in accordance with a recommendation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Following their return, the Ukrainian judokas boycotted the competition.