Iran is in danger of missing the judo competition at next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, after the International Judo Federation (IJF) banned them from events until they give guarantees that they will not boycott matches against Israeli opponents.
A protective suspension was imposed on Iran, following pressure applied to judoka, Saeid Mollaei, at the World Championships in Tokyo in August to avoid facing an Israeli athlete.
The decision to suspend the Iranian Judo Federation from all competitions, administrative and social activities organised or authorised by IJF, following that incident, has now been extended indefinitely.
Iran has been warned the suspension would not be lifted “until the Iran Judo Federation gives strong guarantees and proves that they will respect the IJF Statutes and accept that their athletes fight against Israeli athletes”.
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Judo is one of Iran’s strongest sports and, although they have never won an Olympic medal, they would expect to be strong contenders at Tokyo 2020.
The IJF had previously claimed any measures taken against Iran would not apply directly to Tokyo 2020 because athletes are technically entered by their National Olympic Committees.
But, as reaching Tokyo 2020 depends almost exclusively on world ranking points earned in IJF events, it will be next to impossible for judoka from Iran to qualify.
The IJF Executive Committee began disciplinary proceedings following the incident involving former world champion Mollaei.
He potentially could have faced Israeli judoka Sagi Muki in the men’s under-81-kilograms event at the World Championships in Tokyo.
But before his third-round fight against the Olympic champion, Russian Khasan Khalmurzaev, Mollaei alleged he was called by the Iranian First Deputy Minister of Sport, Davar Zani.
Zani reportedly ordered him to withdraw from the competition to avoid a potential contest between Iran and Israel.
Mollaei also claimed Zani made threats against him and his family.
