Photo Credit: IJF website
Logo of the International Judo Federation (IJF)

The Iranian Judo Federation agreed this weekend to end its decade-long boycott of Israeli athletes in an historic agreement after talks with the International Judo Federation.
The international body cited the ‘disturbing phenomenon’ of Iranian athletes throwing their matches rather than face Israeli athletes on the mat.

“After having witnessed on several occasions in recent history a disturbing phenomenon, which involves the sudden “injury” or failure of weigh-in of Iranian athletes, phenomenon which is linked by many observers to the possible obligation of the given athletes to compete against certain countries, the International Judo Federation decided to step up in order to protect the rights of athletes to fair competition,” the IJF said in its statement.

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“Following several exchanges and discussions with the Iranian Sports Ministry, Olympic Committee and Judo Federation, the IJF is pleased to announce that it received a favorable response and commitment from the Iranian side.”

The letter from the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran confirmed “the I.R. Iran NOC shall fully respect the Olympic Charter and its non-discrimination priniciple, and the I.R. Iran Judo Federation shall fully comply with the Olympic Charter and the IJF Statutes.”

Letter from Iranian Judo Federation confirming end to boycott of Israeli athletes

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Hana Levi Julian is a Middle East news analyst with a degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Southern Connecticut State University. A past columnist with The Jewish Press and senior editor at Arutz 7, Ms. Julian has written for Babble.com, Chabad.org and other media outlets, in addition to her years working in broadcast journalism.