Israeli Judoka Advances to Round of 16 in Paris Olympics after Algerian Opponent Disqualifies Himself

Muslim athletes have often dropped out of international competitions to avoid facing Israelis.

By United with Israel and Greg Beacham, AP

Israeli judoka Tohar Butbul on Monday automatically advanced to the round of 16 in the 2024 Paris Olympics (under 73 kg) after the Algerian opponent he was set to face disqualified himself from the match.

Messaoud Dris of Algeria was dropped from the Paris Olympics judo competition Sunday night, officially for missing weight on the day before he was scheduled to take on Butbul.

The International Judo Federation issued a brief statement declaring Butbul the winner by walkover.

Butbul will now face Azerbaijan judoka and reigning world champion Hidayat Heydarov in the next round.

“We will continue the competition from a sporting perspective. This has no place in sports,” the Israeli delegation said, according to Ynet.

For the second straight Olympics, an Algerian judoka has dropped out of the Games right before he was to face Butbul. In Tokyo, Algeria’s Fethi Nourine withdrew to avoid even a potential second-round matchup with Butbul.

Nourine explicitly cited his support for “Palestine” in announcing his decision three years ago. Nourine and his coach, Amar Benikhlef, were suspended for 10 years by the International Judo Federation in September 2021, effectively ending Nourine’s judo career.

Over the years, a host of Muslim athletes, including those from Algeria, Iran, Syria, Tunisia, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon, Sudan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, have dropped out of international competitions to avoid facing Israeli counterparts. .

During the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Iranian judoka Arash Miresmaeili, then the world champion, deliberately failed his weigh-in so as not to face Israeli judoka Udi Wax.

“Despite months of training and being in good shape, I refuse to fight against an Israeli out of empathy for the suffering of the Palestinian people. I’m not disappointed at all,” Miresmaeili explained after being disqualified.

The move was praised by Iranian authorities, who awarded the judoka a $125,000 bonus, the same amount awarded to Olympic champions. An Iranian parliament spokesperson praised the judoka’s “brave decision,” and said Miresmaeili had “won a place in the hearts of Muslims.”