PARIS: Judo’s governing body is to investigate why Algeria’s Messaoud Redouane Dris failed the weigh-in for his under 73 kg bout with Israel’s Tohar Butbul at the Paris Olympics, saying athletes can become “victims of broader political disputes”.

The International Judo Federation said Dris arrived for the weight control session on Sunday 10 minutes before the deadline and was found to be 400 grams over the allowed weight limit to compete on Monday.

The head of Israel’s Olympic Committee Yael Arad branded it a “disgrace” and called for the North African delegation to be punished. Algerian media and the delegation sponsor hailed Dris.

“Following the Olympic Games, a full review and investigation of the situation will be conducted and further action will be taken if needed,” the IJF said in the statement on Monday.

“We believe that sport should remain a realm of integrity and fairness, free from the influences of international conflicts. Unfortunately, athletes often become victims of broader political disputes which are against the values of sport,” it said.

The Paris 2024 Summer Games are taking place amid pronounced security concerns and heightened geopolitical tensions, including over Israel’s war in Gaza following the Oct 7 attacks led by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

The Algerian Olympic delegation declined to comment.

However, Algerian newspaper al Nahar hailed the judoka for “smartly avoiding meeting Israeli opponent by failing to make the weight”.

Algerian athletes’ sponsor telecom giants Mobilis said on Facebook: Dris won everyone’s respect. Honour and the (Palestinian) cause come first before anything else.”

Arad, a former judoka and the first Israeli to win an Olympics medal, said: “I think this is a disgrace. I think that you can play with the weigh-in, the category, [say] I wasn’t prepared, but everybody knows this is a political issue. My heart goes out to this athlete.”

There had been expectation in the run-up that Dris would pull out given that Algiers does not recognise Israel.

In 2021, another 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 IJF.

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

“He [Dris] is a victim of the system. I think these guys, the coach, the delegation, have to be punished,” Arad, a 1992 Barcelona Games silver medallist, said.

Amid cheers and some boos, Israel’s Butbul on Monday came on to the tatami at the Champs de Mars Arena dojo bowing, as is the custom, to where his opponent should have been before leaving to prepare for his second round match later in the morning.

The Israeli government has warned against possible attacks against its delegations. It cyber arm said some of its athletes had been targeted online and threatened with death. The Paris prosecutor has opened an investigation.

Arad, who believes Israel’s delegation of 88 athletes competing in 15 sports can win 4-5 medals, said it was difficult psychologically for some of the team.

On the one hand they were at the pinnacle of their careers, but on the other were facing threats such as being told on their phones and social media that they were going to die, she said.

“To threaten athletes is the most cowardly thing. We will prevail,” she said.

While there has been some hostility at some venues with anti-Israel slogans and chants, on the whole the antagonism has been relatively isolated.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2024