Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine, who received a 10-year ban from competition for withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics to avoid potentially facing an Israeli opponent, announced Monday he was retiring.

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Nourine, 30, had unsuccessfully appealed the ban imposed by the International Judo Federation.

"I decided to retire after my appeal was rejected, and the 10-year ban remained unchanged," Nourine said. "I know that international federations have always cooperated with Zionist terrorism, especially the International Judo Federation, and perhaps the best evidence is that the ban remains the same even after my appeal.

"I have no regrets. On the contrary, I am proud of this ban and will take every opportunity that comes my way in order to reveal facts about the Zionist entity, and to defend the Palestinian struggle in every way," the judoka said.

Nourine withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics on opening day after learning he could face Israeli judoka and Olympic bronze medalist Tohar Butbul. His coach, Amar Benikhlef, also received a 10-year ban.

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Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei, who fled his country after speaking out against the regime more than a year ago, is due to land in Israel on Sunday to participate in the Tel Aviv Grand Slam scheduled for Feb. 18-20 at Shlomo Hall, Kan 11 News reported Sunday.

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"Saeid Mollaei is due to land … in Israel tonight," a senior official from the competition's organizing committee told Kan, adding that the tournament was a "festival of sports beyond borders."

Competing in the under 81 kg (178.5 lb) category, Mollaei holds gold and bronze world medals.

In November 2019, Germany granted Mollaei refugee status after Iranian officials forced him to be eliminated from the World Judo Championship in Tokyo before he could face off against Israeli judoka Sagi Muki, who went on to win the gold medal in Tokyo.

Mollaei sought to apply for asylum in Germany instead of putting himself at risk by returning home.

"I'm happy, it's a huge message for the world," said Muki.

"It could even bring Iran closer to the State of Israel. It just shows how sport can unite and break down barriers," Muki added.

In response to Iran's boycott of Israeli athletes, the IJF has banned Iran from international competitions indefinitely, "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."

his article was first published by i24NEWS.

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The Israeli national team had believed that only Iranian judokas in specific weight classes would refuse to compete against Israelis, but the Iranian team, it now appears, won't arrive in Tokyo altogether.

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In May, the International Judo Federation and media celebrated Iran's declaration that it would no longer boycott athletes from certain countries, but it was clear, even then, that they had no intention of ever competing against Israeli judokas.

The IJF said in a statement at the time that the Iranian commitment came after several rounds of talks regarding a "disturbing phenomenon" in which Iranian athletes suddenly claim "injuries" or intentionally fail their weigh-ins to avoid meeting athletes from certain countries, alluding to Israel.

Perhaps the most famous incident was the decision by two-time judo world champion Arash Miresmaeili, who deliberately showed up overweight for his bout against an Israeli at the 2004 Athens Olympics and was disqualified.

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The 19-year-old junior world silver medalist defeated 2019 Pan American Games silver medalist judoka Angelica Delgado of the US.

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Primo entered the final after beating Korean rival Jeong Bo-kyeong in the semifinal, and London Olympic champion Sarah Menezes (Brazil) in her preliminary round.

She has already won three bronze medals this season, at the grands prix of Hohhot and Marrakech, and at the Baku Grand Slam.

Teammates Shira Rishoni and Timna Nelson-Levy both won bronze medals, the former in the under 48-kg (106 pound) category and the latter in the 57-kg (126 pound) category.

"I'm proud of our team and their achievements in three categories," said coach Shani Hershko.

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In a letter to the International Judo Federation, Iran's Olympic Committee and local Judo Federation agreed to "fully respect the Olympic Charter and its non-discrimination principle."

The International Judo Federation said in a statement that the Iranian commitment came after several rounds of talks regarding a "disturbing phenomenon" in which Iranian athletes suddenly claim "injuries" or intentionally fail their weigh-ins to avoid meeting athletes from certain countries.

Neither Iran's letter of commitment nor the International Judo Federation's statement explicitly mentioned Israel but Iranian athletes have on numerous occasions forfeited matches in which they were due to face Israelis.

Perhaps the most famous incident was the decision by two-time judo world champion Arash Miresmaili, who deliberately showed up overweight for his bout against an Israeli at the 2004 Athens Olympics and was disqualified.

The sporting policy is an extension of Iran's refusal to recognize Israel. The athletes' boycott against Israeli opponents have been praised by government officials but an increasing number of coaches and competitors have spoken out against the controversial policy.

According to Army Radio, the IJF threatened to ban Iran from international competitions, including the Olympics, if it did not agree to fight Israelis.

Last year, the IJF stripped the rights of Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates to host major international competitions over their refusal to allow Israelis to compete.

The UAE eventually relented and Israel's national anthem was played in the country for the first time after an Israeli judoka took home a gold medal.

Moshe Ponte, head of the Israeli Judo Association, told The Associated Press he welcomed "this courageous and correct decision" by the International Judo Federation to publish the letter.

This article was originally published by i24NEWS. Read more at https://www.i24news.tv/en.

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