An investigation has been launched after Algerian judoka Messaoud Driss failed to weigh in on Sunday, the day before he was due to face Israel’s Tohar Butbul at the Paris Olympics.
The International Judo Federation (IJF) said on Monday it would investigate why Doris failed to make the weight limit. The bout was scheduled to be the opening bout in the men’s 73kg division, but the politics surrounding it had many questioning whether it would even go ahead.
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Jorge Cano Garcia (left) of Spain competes against Messaoud Redouane Driss of Algeria in the men’s 73 kg class during the gold medal match on day two of the IJF Judo Grand Prix Zagreb 2023 at Arena Zagreb in Zagreb, Croatia on August 19, 2023. (Luka Stänzl/Pixell/MB Media/Getty Images)
Doris is a judoka ranked 14th in the world in the 73kg weight class. Butbol is ranked 22nd.
“A thorough investigation and review of the situation will be carried out after the Olympics and further measures will be taken if necessary,” the IJF said.
“We believe that sport should be free from international conflicts and that it should be a fair and honest world. Unfortunately, athletes often become victims of wider political conflicts that go against the values of sport.”
Israel’s war on Gaza, following the Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas, has caused problems on the Olympic stage.
Butbol and Israel coach Guy Vogel said they believed Dorris had been pressured to miss the match because of deteriorating relations between Algeria and Israel.
Israeli athlete Tohar Butbul is pictured during the round of 16 in the men’s 73 kg judo competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Champ de Mars Arena in Paris on July 29, 2024. (Jack Guess/AFP via Getty Images)
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“I think that all Algerian athletes, all Muslim athletes, cannot compete against Israeli athletes,” Butbol said. “I think they are the victims in this. They are athletes, but they are not allowed to compete. I really wanted to compete against him, but it didn’t happen. Maybe we can meet again at the next Olympics and we can compete.”
Doris weighed in on Sunday and came in just under the weight limit at 73.4 kilograms. The IJF said Doris turned up 10 minutes before the deadline, which may suggest he tried to lose weight before the weigh-in but was unsuccessful.
“I respect him,” Butbol said of Doris. “He’s a very good judoka. A very good athlete. I hope that one day there will be peace in the Middle East and I can train in Algeria and he can train in Israel and we can compete on the tatami mat together. Maybe one day I’ll be able to shake his hand.”
Joan Benjamin Gabba of France, left, and Messaoud Redouane Driss of Algeria compete in the final round of the men’s under-73 kg category during the 2022 World Judo Championships at Humo Arena in Tashkent on October 8, 2022. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images)
Israeli judoka Baruk Shmailov prevented his two opponents from shaking hands with him after their match on Sunday.
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“This isn’t the first time that athletes have not fought the Israelis for one reason or another,” Vogel said Monday. “It’s part of our history. For me, if I don’t want to fight, OK, I’ll just move on to the next one.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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