Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Iran banned from world judo until it agrees to face Israel

Iran banned from world judo until it agrees to face Israel | iNFOnews.ca
FILE - In this Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 file photo, Saeid Mollaei of Iran, top, competes against Didar Khamza of Kazakhstan during their men's - 81kg final judo match at the18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Judo world champion Iran has been banned from international judo competitions for refusing to let its athletes fight Israeli opponents. The International Judo Federation has imposed an indefinite ban on Iran’s team until it promises to end a long-running boycott of Israel. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana, File)

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Iran has been banned from international judo competitions for refusing to let its athletes fight Israeli opponents.

The International Judo Federation has imposed an indefinite ban on Iran’s team until it promises to end a long-running boycott of Israel.

The IJF’s disciplinary commission says the ban will stand “until the Iran Judo Federation gives strong guarantees and prove that they will respect the IJF Statutes and accept that their athletes fight against Israeli athletes.”

The ruling comes after 2018 world champion Saeid Mollaei walked off the Iranian team in August, saying he had been ordered to lose matches and withdraw from competitions so as not to face Israelis. He is now in hiding in Germany.

___

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

News from © iNFOnews.ca, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

iNFOTEL

Related Articles