Tokyo Olympics: Algerian judoka suspended and sent home after withdrawing to avoid Israeli opponent

Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine has been suspended and will be sent home from Tokyo 2020 after he withdrew from the competition to avoid a potential meeting with an Israeli opponent.

Nourine, 30, was due to face Sudan’s Mohamed Abdalrasool in Monday’s first round of the men’s -73kg class.

Victory would have meant he would take on Israel’s Tohar Butbul next.

Speaking to Algerian TV, he said his political support for the Palestinian cause made it impossible to compete.

Nourine pulled out of the 2019 world championships, also in Tokyo, after being paired with Butbul – who has a first-round bye.