Top judoka, world champion Nemanja Majdov has confused the sports community with his own behavior across sport boundaries.
Judo world champion and third in the men’s under 90 kg world ranking Nemanja Majdov has received a five-month ban from the International Judo Federation for making the sign of the cross before stepping onto the tatami mat in his opening match at the Paris Olympics.
In martial arts, all religious gestures are prohibited under article three of the IJF ethical rules. Serbian judoka Majdov, 28, had previously received two written warnings for the same matter.
The International Judo Federation had previously banned the Swedish bronze medalist from the Paris Olympics Tara to Babulfathi18, who protested the semi-final referee’s decision and did not leave the mat immediately after his loss, and to the Georgian To Guram Tushishvilwho fell into an unsportsmanlike act, getting a hansokumak, i.e. a foul worthy of disqualification from the games. Babulfath received a three-month ban, Tushishvili six.
Majdov has diligently poured out his feelings on social media both during Paris and after his ban.
– Fifteen days ago, I received a decision about the IJF’s competition ban, in which I have been banned from participating in all tournaments and camps for five months. The truth is, in my defense of the disciplinary process, I did not want to apologize for the contradiction – and I never will.
Several Serbian athletes have shown their support for Majdov – including a tennis star Novak Djokovic.
– I am sorry that a beautiful and tough sport like judo makes such decisions. God is number one for me and has given me a great career – seven EC and three WC medals, writes Majdov.
Violent outbursts from the judges
Majdov, the 2017 world champion and this year’s World Cup runner-up, was in an extraordinary slump in Paris after losing his opening match on caution to Greece To Theodoros Tselidiswho eventually advanced to Olympic bronze.
On social media, on his Instagram account, Majdov wrote harsh, fiery comments at the time of the Olympic disappointment to be a religious man.
– Satanic garbage from the judges. Now disc me after two minutes without even giving me a chance. Is this in line with the values of sport and the Olympics? Just garbage people (judges), that’s what you are. Every tear will come back to you, you cursed and satanic individuals, Majdov put Olympic judges on his Instagram account.
Nowadays, it is common in judo for the other contestant to lose with three warnings. Majdov requested a video review from the Romanian mat judge for his third warning. Such a thing is never given in the sport.
– Judo is a ruined and corrupt sport. The referees have 100% control over the outcome of the match. And FYI editors, I did not lose; no one beat me. Currently, the best do not win in this sport, the Satanists decide who wins. I spit it on everything, wrote Majdov source by.
The International Judo Federation did not comment at all on Majdov’s violent writings, but officially said that Majdov had broken three judo rules; “religious” article, refused to “bow down to the opponent” and “took off his judogi in the fighting area”.
The IJF’s official report on Majdov’s ban from here
Finnish judge: Bad behavior is the deciding factor
Worked as a judo judge at the Paris Olympics Brother-Matti Karinkanta thinks that Majdov’s ban did not come only from the sign of the cross.
– As I recall, he stayed on the tatami to protest the sentence and behaved badly otherwise. I wondered why there was so much emphasis on making the sign of the cross. The behavior was more outrageous. There are others there who make the sign of the cross. After all, they bow and leave the tatami in a matter-of-fact way.
Karinkanta understands that the athlete may have felt that he was treated unfairly.
– The reason for these religious articles is that in sports you always want to separate politics and religion.
Majdov’s stubbornness has possibly affected the duration of the collar.
– After his match, the young Swede Babulfath went to apologize to six or seven people at the venue, but still received a three-month ban, judo judge Karinkanta reminds.