Iran Judo Federation suspended by IJF

Following what happened during the last World Judo Championships Tokyo 2019, the International Judo Federation pronounces against the Iran Judo Federation a protective suspension from all competitions, administrative and social activities organized or authorized by International Judo Federation and its Unions.

The International Judo Federation (IJF) has been informed that the August 28th 2019, during the last 2019 World Championships in Tokyo, a judoka from Iran Saeid Mollaei (U81kg) has been instructed by the Iranian authorities and the Iran Judo Federation to withdraw from competing to avoid a potential contest against an Israeli athlete, in this case, Sagi Muki.

These facts and actions are in gross contradiction with the content of the letter sent to the IJF on May 8th, 2019 under the signature of Presidents Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri, President of the Iran NOC and Arash Miresmaeili, President of the Iran Judo Federation, which categorically confirms that “…by means of this letter, we would like to confirm that the Iran NOC shall fully respect the Olympic Charter and its non-discrimination principle and the Iran Federation shall fully comply with the Olympic Charter and the IJF Statutes…”.

Furthermore, they constitute a serious breach and gross violation of the Statutes of the IJF, its legitimate interests, its principles and objectives as well as of, in particular, but not limited to, the IJF Code of Ethics and the Olympic Charter.

On these grounds, The IJF Disciplinary Commission pronounces against the Iran Judo Federation a protective suspension from all competitions, administrative and social activities organized or authorized by International Judo Federation and its Unions, started from 18 September 2019 to the final Commission decision regarding this case.