Algerian judoka Redouane Messaoud Dris is alleged to have intentionally exceeded the weight limit to avoid competing against Israeli opponent Tohar Butbul at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Dris, 22, was scheduled to fight Butbul in the under 73kg weight class today, July 29. However, Dris exceeded the 73kg limit during the pre-match weigh-in and was disqualified. Paris 2024 organizers confirmed that Butbul would advance to the next round.

The Algerian Judo Federation and the National Olympic Committee have not commented on the incident. However, the Israeli Olympic Committee has accused Dris of “intentional” disqualification and criticized the Algerian athlete.

Messaoud Dris (in white) during a match at the 2022 World Championships. Photo: L’Équipe

“Tohar’s opponent has self-eliminated from the competition,” stated the Israeli Olympic Committee. “Israel will continue to compete with Olympic values. We believe that such behavior has no place in the world of sports.”

According to Bild, Dris allegedly used a “trick” to exceed the weight limit by approximately 400 grams, a minimum amount that rendered him ineligible to compete, possibly avoiding potential penalties from the International Judo Federation (IJF).

“At the Olympics, sports are meant to bring people together. But some athletes are going against this principle. Paris 2024 has its first boycott scandal,” commented the German newspaper.

Tohar Butbul during a loss at the 2021 World Championships. Photo: Reuters

Other athletes have also been involved in controversies by refusing to compete against Israeli opponents. At Tokyo 2020, another Algerian judoka, Fethi Nourine, was banned from competition for 10 years by the International Judo Federation after withdrawing from a match against Israeli opponent Tohar Butbul. Later, Mohamed Abdalrasool of Sudan also avoided competing against Butbul in the Round of 16 despite participating in the pre-match weigh-in.

At the 2016 Olympics, Egyptian judoka Islam El Shahaby announced his retirement from judo just hours after refusing to shake hands with Or Sasson, who defeated him in the over 100kg weight class. Prior to this, social media and extremist groups had pressured the 2010 world champion to withdraw from the match. El Shahaby also faced pressure after losing to Sasson.