Algeria Fethi Nourine and his coach have been suspended for 10 years by the International Judo Federation (IJF) to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics after his draw assigned him to an Israeli against Israel.
The 30-year-old will face Mohamed Abdalrasool for his first battle in the men’s 73kg and the victory will pair him with Tohar Butbul Israel in the next round.
Nourine said his political support for the causes of Palestine made him impossible for him to compete against Butbul.
The Algerian Olympic committee attracted accreditation for Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef and sent them home from Tokyo’s match.
IJF, who temporarily suspended Nourine and Benikhlef, said the couple used the game “as a platform for protests and promoting political and religious propaganda”, which violated ethical codens and the Olympic Charter.
They were banned from all events and IJF activities until July 23, 2031, although they could submit their ban on the arbitration court for sports, the statement said.
The incident was not the first time Nourin was withdrawn from competition to avoid the opponent of Israel.
He left the 2019 World Championship in Tokyo for the same reason.
Tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict flared again this year because the confrontation in the contested Jerusalem triggered cross-border clashes.