Judo body suspends Iran

Paris, September 18 

Iran has been suspended from international judo for ordering a judoka to lose at the World Championships to avoid facing an Israeli, the International Judo Federation (IJF) said today.

Saeid Mollaei, who entered last month’s event in Tokyo as the reigning world champion in the -81kg class, said he was ordered to throw his semifinal rather than risk facing an Israeli in the final.

Mollaei lost to Belgian Matthias Casse, who in turn lost to Sagi Muki of Israel in the final. “The alleged actions are serious enough to consider the application of a protective suspension,” the IJF said in a statement.

It explained that it had “strong reason to believe that the Iran Judo Federation will continue or repeatedly engage in misconduct”.

After finishing fifth in Tokyo last month, Mollaei fled to Berlin. 

The Times of Israel quoted the Israeli coach as saying Mollaei’s family had been threatened. “From what we understand,” said Moshe Fonti. “Iranian intelligence officials came to his home in Iran and to the judo arena and warned him.” — AFP