Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef are being sent back home from the Olympics after refusing to face an opponent from Israel. Nourine was set to face Sudan’s Mohamed Abdalrasool in his first bout on Monday, with a possible second round showdown against Israeli Tohar Butbul in the 73kg category. In order to avoid a potential clash with Butbul, Nourine withdrew from the category, following which his Olympic accreditation withdrawn.

Speaking to an Algerian television station, Nourine said he supports the Palestinian cause and that makes it impossible for him to compete against an Israeli.

“We worked a lot to reach the Olympics… but the Palestinian cause is bigger than all of this,” he said, adding that his decision was “final”.

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On Saturday, the International Judo Federation’s (IJF) executive committee announced they had temporarily suspended Nourine and his coach Benikhlef.

“According to the IJF rules, in line with the Olympic Charter and especially with rule 50.2 that provides for the protection of the neutrality of sport at the Olympic Games and the neutrality of the Games themselves, which states that ‘no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas,’ Fethi Nourine and Amar Benikhlef are now suspended and will face a decision by the IJF Disciplinary Commission, as well as disciplinary sanctions by the National Olympic Committee of Algeria back in their country,” the federation said in a statement.

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“Judo sport is based on a strong moral code, including respect and friendship, to foster solidarity and we will not tolerate any discrimination, as it goes against the core values and principles of our sport,” the statement added. 

Following this, the Algerian Olympic Committee withdrew their accreditation said they would be put on a plane home, with further sanctions expected.