Algerian judoka to be sent home after refusing potential bout with Israeli

Too bad he couldn't imagine "there's no countries". Sad!

What a clown, don't let the door hit ya on the way out. Loser

A man with principles. Full BDS of the illegal Israeli apartheid state

This is very sad for the children, for whom these games are taking place.

We should be encouraging them to see past race, religion and ideology.

But I am sure these Olympics will still be a celebration of perseverance and goodwill among men.

What a loser.

The IJF has a strict non-discrimination policy. We'll kick anyone's backside.

Didn't someone a few days ago mentioned "Olympic spirit"? Obviously it is missing here!!! If athletes can't put Religion/Politics aside during Olympics, what chance is there for warring parties?

With athletes from other events already pulling out after testing positive, I think this guy may have inadvertently done the smart thing.

Let's imagine that one judoka passes all the requisite tests and is allowed to compete, but for some reason he is actually positive. It's not a theoretical impossibility.

Along with wrestling, judo is about the most close contact sport at the Olympics, and if two athletes fight and one is positive, you have to figure that the odds of the other person getting infected must be close to absolute. Then they both go back to their rooms like obedient athletes, but before that they see their coaches, team-mates, etc. Mini-superspreader right there.

So through a political gesture, this guy might have actually been doing the smart thing.

I was going to make a scarcastic comment about Olympic togetherness and putting these kind of things aside. But then I remembered that that Taiwan is still forced to participate as "Chinese Taipei".

I was going to make a scarcastic comment about Olympic togetherness and putting these kind of things aside. But then I remembered that that Taiwan is still forced to participate as "Chinese Taipei".

Chinese Taipei might not even that humiliating to the people of Taiwan,

Did you see the flag they were forced to use, so humiliating to the people of this nice nation, unfortunately some here don't see hypocrisy even when it is steering them in their face,

He's basically being punished for a thought crime. Had he withdrawn due to fears over Covid, or depression, or in solidarity with a political cause approved by corporate sponsors (BLM, LGBT etc), he would not be facing further sanctions.

Sad. Sport (especially the Olympics) is one way people from different countries, cultures and religions can/should get along. No fan of Israel but thanks to narrow-minded people like this, these conflicts will never end.

Why even send a team then, fools?

They knew eventually, if things panned out, they would have to face each other.

And relax with predicting a first round win before it even happens, who said you couldn’t lose?

Settle it on the mat. Instead of oinking out like a sucka.

Didn't someone a few days ago mentioned "Olympic spirit"? Obviously it is missing here!!! If athletes can't put Religion/Politics aside during Olympics, what chance is there for warring parties?

How about the IOC cowering to China and calling Taiwan Chinese Taipei and to rub salt to injury make them carry some humiliating flag and not the countries flag, I guess if it was you will not feel humiliating,

Feel free to down vote.

When has there never been Religion and politics in the world let alone the olympics? It is never gonna happen and just because a select few preaching it doesn't mean it is true or the reality. Demanding so much and holding a small unknown individual to a higher standard than the all powerful IOC that is cowering to China beggars believe. I guess, If Bach was Tedros some of you here would have been quick in calling him a tool of China or that he has been bought over. Some here are blinded by nationalism some by color and expecting rational thinking from such people would be asking the impossible.

Good for him. The world should be boycotting the zionist state as it did apartheid South Africa.

He should have face his opponent like a man instead of dragging in his personal views about Isreal into a competition.

He knows he would have lost to Israel. The weak cannot fight on level terms, so run away.

Sad there is so much hate for Israel on a human level. It’s beyond geo-politics. One side wants the other side exterminated.

Now where is that supposed Olympic spirit one keeps going on about, you know the world needs the games to show covid and the rest of the nonsense.

So first we have the South Koreans, the the American team taking a knee now this, and we are only officially not even one day in.

A man with principles. Full BDS of the illegal Israeli apartheid state

So you’re selectively ok with politics in sports sometimes then, I see.

Is there anything politics has not destroyed?

@AntiquesavingToday  01:50 pm JST

Now where is that supposed Olympic spirit one keeps going on about, you know the world needs the games to show covid and the rest of the nonsense.

You spelled non$en$e incorrectly... The correct spelling will answer your question.

Is there anything politics has not destroyed?

Yes, but it is being worked on as we speak.

To be completely fair this kind of anti-sport attitudes are completely inside of what should be expected from these games, full of misogyny, drugs, scandals.

Bye, Felicia

Politics in sport.

Don’t mix politics and sport. So much for bringing the whole world together…

Had he withdrawn due to fears over Covid, or depression, or in solidarity with a political cause approved by corporate sponsors (BLM, LGBT etc), he would not be facing further sanctions.

No he wouldn’t. If he refuses a bout that’s the end for him!!!

Nothing wrong with taking the knee though, it gives great pleasure to see the haters all riled up!!!!

Good for him. The world should be boycotting the zionist state as it did apartheid South Africa.

On Sept. 5, 1972, members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage at the poorly secured athletes’ village by Palestinian gunmen from the Black September group.

Within 24 hours, 11 Israelis, five Palestinians and a German policeman were dead after a standoff and subsequent rescue effort erupted into gunfire. The IOC at the time decided not to stop or interrupt the Games.

Disgraceful. He would do well to reflect on Algeria's treatment of Jews.

After Algeria gained its independence in 1962, it passed the Nationality Code in 1963, depriving non-Muslims of citizenship. This law extended citizenship only to those individuals whose fathers and paternal grandfathers were Muslim. 95% of the country's 140,000-strong indigenous Jewish population went into exile after the passage of the law. Approximately 130,000 Jews left Algeria. Moroccan Jews who were living in Algeria and Jews from the M'zab Valley in the Algerian Sahara, who did not have French citizenship, as well as a small number of Algerian Jews from Constantine, also emigrated to Israel at that time.[

By 1969, fewer than 1,000 Jews were still living in Algeria. By 1975 the government had seized all but one of the country's synagogues and converted them to mosques or libraries.

There are an estimated 50 Jews remaining in Algeria, mostly in Algiers

Getting angry about footballers taking a knee or Naomi Osaka making a statement, but then applauding this doofus. Typical.

Whatever political reason, that’s not important and doesn’t belong into the Olympics. Decisive here is only the keeping of social distance during that crazy virus super spreading event by withdrawing. In this regard every canceled or refused bout is the only possible good option. Instead of sanctions they should him hand out a virus prevention award for his courage and responsible behavior.

When Fethi Nourine and his coach, Amar Benikhlef buckled there seat belts, both were fully aware of the consequences that such a competition would inevitably mean a bout with an Israeli competitor.

It is a truly shameful act of prejudice, and discrimination. No excuses, both must be made examples of.

He's basically being punished for a thought crime. 

If he went to the Olympics not prepared to compete against all other competitors, he should not have taken a place on the team. There would have been plenty of others prepared to take his place.

If he was really consistent, he would boycott all Chinese competitors because if its occupation of Tibet, but no, he is focused on one particular country.

To reject an opponent openly during Olympic Games solely because of his citizenship is pretty low, very embarrassing. Totally unacceptable rude behavior.

To send this person and his manager back home immediately is the only correct solution.

He can withdraw anytime of course, but this has to be done in a polite way - no need even to give a reason for doing it.

"Sad there is so much hate for Israel on a human level. It’s beyond geo-politics." What about Israeli hate for the Palestinians who are treated like second hand citizens and live under a state of occupation? Please read the historical facts before you jump to conclusions.

A man with principles. Full BDS of the illegal Israeli apartheid state

You can disagree with the politics of the israelean government but refusing to engage with someone from a certain country is just blatant rasiscm. Like actual rasiscm. The term is used so inflationary nowadays that it almost lost its meaning but this a textbook example. Just because someone was born in a certain country doesnt mean that that person supports the actions of its government.

"before he was scheduled to face Butbul, who is a much more accomplished judo athlete than Nourine."

This is the main reason for all this "circus".

He and the coach can say whatever they want; they are not fooling the Peeping.

What an idiot. Especially since he ended up being counter productive by letting the Israeli go on to the next round without challenge, therefore being better prepared for upcoming matches.