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Algerian quits Olympics rather than take on Israeli in judo match

TOKYO — An Algerian judo competitor has chosen to ditch the Tokyo Olympics rather than hit the mat with an Israeli.

It was the second time in two years that ninth-ranked Fethi Nourine withdrew from a major judo competition rather than take on sixth-ranked Israeli Tohar Butbul.

Nourine and his coach, Amar Benikhlef, told Algerian media that they were boycotting Butbul to support the Palestinians.

“My position of the Palestinian issue is firm,” Nourine said on Thursday. “I will not recognize the Israeli flag, and I will not get my hands dirty with it.”

Benikhlef said “we were not lucky with the draw.”

“We got an Israeli opponent, and that’s why we had to retire,” the coach said. “We made the right decision.”

There has been no official response from the Israelis, but the International Judo Federation quickly slapped Nourine and his coach with a temporary suspension and said both could face more sanctions after the games are over.

“These actions were taken based on the official recorded declarations of both Fethi Nourine and Amar Benikhlef, that were published in the media and that are in total opposition to the philosophy of the International Judo Federation,” the organization said in a statement. “The IJF has a strict non-discrimination policy, promoting solidarity as a key principle, reinforced by the values of judo.”

In response, the Algerian Olympic committee withdrew both men’s accreditation and made plans to send them home.

Behind the scenes in Olympic host city Tokyo
Nourine had faced a possible second round matchup on Monday with Butbul in the 73K division. His first round opponent was Sudan’s Mohamed Abdalrasool.

Two years ago, Nourine pulled out of the 2019 Judoka World Championships when he was pitted against Butbul.

The Algerian’s refusal to compete with Butbul for a second time came on the same day the director of the Tokyo Olympics’ opening ceremony was fired for making a Holocaust joke during a comedy show back in 1998.

During the ceremony Friday, the organizers paused to remember the nine members of the Israeli team who were murdered by Palestinian terrorists during the 1972 summer Olympics in Munich, Germany.

It’s not the first time that Israeli judo competitors have been shunned by rivals from Arab states.

Back in 2016, at the games in Brazil, an Egyptian who later quit the sport refused to shake the hand of an Israeli who had just defeated him.

And in April, the IJF hit the Iranian Judo Federation with a four-year ban for demanding that its athletes refuse to fight Israeli opponents.

BKayy:
Chai. I hate this news.
But why the excess pictures? Is it because of girls or what?
When Lokonga was signed by Arsenal, you people posted one picture here but una don see fine boy come post seven picture in a forum where the limit is 4.
Una wan make feminists kill themselves with dildos toady?

Armed bandits have abducted a second class Emir of Kajuru, Alhaji Alhassan Adamu at his residence in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

The bandits also whisked away 12 other family members of the emir including women and children.
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After Daily Trust report, security operatives raid Remon village, arrest over 100 suspects

The grandson of the emir and traditional title holder of Dan Kajuru, Saidu Musa confirmed the abduction to Daily trust.

He said the incident happened around 12:30 am.

Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, and the Police Public Relations Officer, Jalige Mohamed didn’t answer their calls.

ruggedtimi:
The gate of the hotel actually looks like a den for kidnappers and criminals