x

Algerian judo athlete withdraws from Olympic Games to avoid facing Israeli

Shortpedia

Content Team
Image Credit: International judo federation

Fethi Nourine, an Algerian judoka, has announced his decision to withdraw from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics rather than compete against an Israeli opponent. According to Nourine, he "decided to resign out of conviction, because this is the absolute least we can offer the Palestinian cause." The International Judo Federation (IJF) suspended Nourine and his coach, Amar Benikhlef, on Saturday after he announced his withdrawal.