An Algerian judoka and his coach have been booted from the Olympics, and suspended by judo’s international governing body, for refusing to compete against an Israeli …
An Algerian judoka and his coach have been booted from the Olympics, and suspended by judo’s international governing body, for refusing to compete against an Israeli athlete this week. The athlete, Fethi Nourine,30, cited his support for Palestinians as the reason he withdrew from a potential match against Tohar Botbul of Israel. “My position is consistent on the Palestinian issue, and I reject normalization, and if it cost me that absence from the Olympic Games, God will compensate,” Nourine said, according to London-based outlet Middle East Eye. The International Judo Federation’s (IJF) executive committee announced Saturday they had temporarily suspended both Nourine and coach Amar Benikhlef in wake of his refusal to compete earlier this week.
