Antisemitism comes in all forms, and the Olympic Games serve as a worldwide platform for Jew hatred. Not only do bus stop advertisements shout antisemitic lies, but at times, athletes will do anything possible to avoid even facing off against Israelis.

Such was the case on Monday when Algerian judo athlete Messaoud Redouane Dris is believed to have spent Sunday evening overeating in order to fail his pre-competition weigh-in in the 73kg category. As in other sports with weight limits, judo athletes must maintain weight below that dictated by their particular category.

Dris was to face Israeli star, Tohar Butbul on Monday night, but with the disqualification, Butbul advances to the next round without having to compete. The Israeli Olympic Committee strongly condemned the effort by Dris to ‘remove himself from the competition.’

Tohar’s competitor has removed himself from the competition. The Israeli delegation will continue to compete with the Olympic values in mind, we believe this kind of behaviour has no place in the world of sport.
~Israeli Olympic official

A full investigation of the incident will take place following the Olympics. However, it is not unusual for Algerian athletes to refuse to fight Israelis. Another Algerian judoka withdrew from a bout with Butbul during the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. He was given a 10-year ban from the sport.

So, is the issue really about facing an Israeli, or is it simply a distaste in bowing to a victorious Israeli? Perhaps a bit of both, but I suspect the latter is the greater motivation!