Algerian judo competitor withdraws from Paris Olympics match against Israeli opponent

Algerian Redouane Messaoud Dris was disqualified from the men’s under-73kg judo event at the Paris Olympics after failing the weigh-in a day before he was scheduled to face Israel’s Tohar Butbul, organisers said on Sunday.

“Redouane Messaoud Driss has been disqualified … Dris, entered in the men’s -73 kg event, failed the weigh-in. Therefore his opponent Tohar Butbul will win the scheduled contest by walkover,” Games organisers said in a statement.

The decision was issued by the International Judo Federation (IJF) technical delegate.

“Tohar’s competitor has removed himself from the competition,” the Israeli Olympic Committee said in a statement.

“The Israeli delegation will continue to compete with the Olympic values in mind, we believe this kind of behaviour has no place in the world of sport.”

The Algerian judo federation was not immediately available to comment.

In 2021, Algerian Fethi Nourine withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics in order to avoid a potential fight against Butbul in the second round. He was then handed a 10-year ban by the International Judo Federation (IJF).

Sudan’s Mohamed Abdalrasool then did not show up to face Butbul in their round of 32 bout despite weighing in earlier.