ALGERIAN judoka Messaoud Dris has been disqualified from Paris 2024 after failing to make weight.
That took place shortly before Dris’, 22, scheduled bout against Israeli competitor Tohar Butbul in today’s elimination round.
Butbul, 30, was gifted a walkover when his opponent weighed in above the 73kg limit on Sunday.
And Dris could be facing a 10-year ban after the Israeli Olympic Committee accused him of getting himself deliberately disqualified.
The officials suspect the Oran star intended to avoid competing against their athlete at Paris 2024.
The Israeli Olympic Committee issued the following statement: “Tohar’s competitor has removed himself from the competition.
“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.”
Algeria’s judo federation and national Olympic Committee have yet to respond to those serious allegations.
Butbul was at the centre of controversy at Tokyo 2020 three years ago.
Another Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine withdrew from his scheduled bout against the Israeli in Japan.
Nourine explained he deliberately made that decision as a form of support for Palestine.
The judo star was ultimately handed a 10-year ban by the International Judo Federation.
A Sudanese judoka Mohamed Abdalarasool also expressed solidarity for Palestine by withdrawing from his bout against Butbul in Tokyo.
