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.
Read more at NY Post.
{Matzav.com}
send him back to Algeria NOW !!!!!!!!!!
What a principled person just like the nazis
At least he has principles.
Maybe he refused to play against him because losing to him would be too humiliating?
What a loser. He worked so hard all these years to get the honor and privilege of making it to the Olympics and he throws it away for hatred. This goes to show you how deep rooted this hatred really is.