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Olympic Judo Champion Suspended After Making Sign Of The Cross


An Olympic judo champion has been suspended for five months for making the sign of the cross during the Olympic games this year.

Serbian judo champion Nemanja Majdov was informed that he has been suspended from competing in any International Judo Federation (IJF) sanctioned fight until February of next year.

The IJF reported that Majdov was sanctioned for “having shown a clear religious sign when entering the field of play.”

In an Instagram post, Majdov wrote, “15 days ago, I received a notice from the World Judo Federation about a five-month suspension for violating religious codes.”

Check out what Breitbart reported:

A Serbian judo champion was left stunned when he was informed that he was being suspended for five months for daring to make the sign of the cross after his match in the Paris Olympic games this year.

Nemanja Majdov, 28, has been told that he will not be allowed to compete in any International Judo Federation (IJF) sanctioned fight until February of next year because he supposedly violated the organization’s rules of comportment, the Daily Mail reported.

The IJF maintains that he is being sanctioned for “having shown a clear religious sign when entering the field of play.”

The video confirms that after his July 31 match, Majdov did, indeed, perform the sign of the cross as he walked away from the mat.

Confirming the suspension in a public statement on Instagram, Majdov said, “15 days ago, I received a notice from the World Judo Federation about a five-month suspension for violating religious codes. More precisely, for crossing myself when entering a fight at the Olympic Games. I am prohibited from participating in all tournaments, training camps, and training.”

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Per Judo Inside:

Nemanja Majdov got suspensed by the International Judo Federation for five months for for making the sign of the cross before stepping onto the tatami for his round of 16 match against Theodoros Tselidis during the Olympics. Majdov, a strong believer in God, has been handed a five-month suspension, following two previous warnings for the same reason on April 10, 2018, and February 24, 2022.

This religious gesture is prohibited under Article 3 of the IJF Code of Ethics. Other judokas, such as Georgian Lasha Bekauri, are known to make similar gestures. It remains to be seen if they will also face warnings or suspensions.

After Tara Babulfath (three months) and Guram Tushishvili (six months), it is now Nemanja Majdov’s turn to be suspended by the International Judo Federation (IJF) for his behavior during the Paris Olympic Games.

The 28-year-old Serbian judoka, who won the 2023 European Championship and was the 2024 World Championship runner-up in the -90kg category and 2017 world champion is banned from participating in all tournaments, camps, and preparations during this period.

In his message on instagram, Majdov explains that, in his defense letter, he chose not to apologize for the act of crossing himself, and he stands firm in his decision. For him, his faith is of utmost importance, and he proudly declares that God has given him everything, both in his personal life and in his career, and that will not change under any circumstances. He remains grateful to God for all his blessings.



 

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