Algerian Judoka Disqualified Ahead of Match Against Israeli Competitor

Algerian judoka Redouane Messaoud Dris was disqualified from the Olympic Games after failing to make the weight for his scheduled bout against Israeli judoka Tohar Butbul in the -73kg category. The 22-year-old was removed from the draw after weighing in above the 73kg limit, allowing Butbul to advance to the next round by walkover.

The organizers of the Games confirmed Dris’s disqualification. The Algerian judo federation and national Olympic committee have not yet commented on the situation.

In response, the Israeli Olympic Committee suggested that Dris’s failure to compete was intentional, criticizing the Algerian judoka’s actions. “Tohar’s competitor has removed himself from the competition,” the Israeli body stated. “The Israeli delegation will continue to compete with the Olympic values in mind. We believe this kind of behavior has no place in the world of sport.”

This incident echoes a similar situation from the Tokyo Games in 2021, where another Algerian judoka, Fethi Nourine, received a 10-year ban from the International Judo Federation for withdrawing from a bout against Butbul.