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An Algerian judo competitor has withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympics after learning he could have faced an Israeli opponent.
Fethi Nourine said his political support for the Palestinian cause made it impossible to compete against Tohar Butbul. He told Algerian TV he would not "get his hands dirty" and his "decision was final". "We worked a lot to reach the Olympics, and the news came as a shock, a thunder", he added.
@Maesthetic Thoughts?
Fethi Nourine said his political support for the Palestinian cause made it impossible to compete against Tohar Butbul. He told Algerian TV he would not "get his hands dirty" and his "decision was final". "We worked a lot to reach the Olympics, and the news came as a shock, a thunder", he added.
Tokyo Olympics 2020: Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine withdraws to avoid facing Israeli competitor Tohar Butbul
Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine also withdrew from the 2019 world championships in Tokyo to avoid facing an Israeli competitor, with his coach saying at the time "we were unlucky with the draw".
news.sky.com