Algerian athlete withdraws from Olympics over possible judoka matchup with Israeli opponent

An Algerian athlete withdrew from the Olympics over the possibility of a judoka matchup with an Israeli opponent.

“We were not lucky with the draw. We got an Israeli opponent and that’s why we had to retire. We made the right decision,” coach Amar Ben Yaklif said to Algerian media, The Times of Israel reported.

Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine withdrew from the Games on Thursday after he found out he could possibly face Israeli athlete Tohar Butbul in a second-round fight. 

This is not the first time Nourine has withdrawn from a world tournament due to the prospect of facing Butbul, according to The Times of Israel.

He pulled out of the Judo World Championships in 2019 due to a draw where he would have had to face the Israeli opponent.

Fights with Israeli judoka athletes have caused controversy in the past, with Iran receiving a four-year ban from the International Judo Federation after the Iranian Judo Federation did not want its country’s athletes to face Israel.

Former Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei, who left the team in 2019, said the team would tell athletes to withdraw or lose matches with Israeli opponents, the outlet noted.

The Olympics began on Friday and will continue until Aug. 8.