The Serbian judo champion was stunned when he was informed he would be suspended for five months for making the sign of the cross after a match at this year's Paris Olympics.
Nemanja Maidov (28 years old) said He was found to have violated International Judo Federation (IJF) rules and was banned from competing in any IJF-sanctioned matches until February next year. Daily Mail Reported.
The IJF claims he is being punished for “showing obvious religious signs when entering the competition area.”
The video confirms that Maidov did, in fact, make the sign of the cross as he walked off the mat after his July 31 bout.
Confirm the suspension in public statement “15 days ago I was informed by the World Judo Federation of my five-month suspension for violating religious regulations – more precisely, for making the sign of the cross during an Olympic match. I will be banned from taking part in all competitions, training camps and training sessions,” Maidov wrote on Instagram.
“To be more precise, [making a sign of the cross] “I have been banned from taking part in all tournaments, camps and preparations for the Olympic games,” he continued.
“Certainly, I did not want to apologize in my written response to the disciplinary proceedings… and of course I have not apologized and will not apologize in the future, but I did not even know what the punishment would be,” Maidov explained.
“The Lord has given me everything, both personally and career-wise. He is number one for me. I am proud of that and that will not change no matter what the circumstances. I give the Lord all the glory and thanks for everything,” he added. “For me personally, there is nothing new, just a new page in my career and new life experiences. I am sad that such a beautiful and difficult sport as judo has fallen into this.”
“God has given me a great career, winning seven medals at European Championships and three at World Championships. When I started, I dreamed of winning at least one big medal and succeeding in life for my family who sacrificed everything for me and my career,” the fighter added. “God has given us so much more and borrowed so much that when I choose one over the other, I bow before my family.”
He writes, “We will rest until then, and then, with the help of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will return to new beginnings and new victories.”
The fighter also pointed out that he had previously been warned by the IJF in 2016 and 2022 to stop making the sign of the cross after matches.
The IJF defended its anti-Christian rules, noting that Maidov did not dispute previous accusations of violating the rules. The organization also slammed Maidov's claims that he was unaware of the rules, saying “it is not accurate to claim that he was unaware of the rules prohibiting any religious, political, ethnic or other sign in the judo arena.”
The group added that it “respects and values all cultures, nationalities, religions and orientations equally,” but stressed that its rules ensure members “feel respected and accepted.”
“Our rules regarding the display of religious or other signs pertain only to the competition arena, which is a space exclusively for judo, and only judo-specific signs and rules are displayed equally for all,” the organization argued. “As we continue to respect the individual freedom of each member of our community, we do not prohibit religious practices or the display of religious signs outside of the competition arena.”
The attack on Maidov for flaunting his Christian faith appears to be just another attack on Christians by the Olympics, which opened with a blasphemous display that mocked “The Last Supper” for its homosexual themes and an elaborate dance number that featured dozens of LGBTQ exhibits, many of which were seen by millions.
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