Olympics: Saudi Arabia Judo Competitor Forfeits Her Match to Avoid Going Against An Israeli

'Bad blood politics' even at the Olympics?

A Saudi judo competitor, Joud Fahmy allegedly forfeited her first round match at the Olympic Games to avoid going up against a rival from Israel.


The Saudi was to take on Christianne Legentil from Mauritius for the right to take on
Israel’s Gili Cohen in the next round.

But before the fight, Saudi officials tweeted to say she had injured her arm and leg during training and that her doctors had told her to pull out.

Times of Israel has however reported that a Channel 2 broadcaster said she had dropped out to avoid a fixture against an Israeli—obviously due to the hostile relationship between the two countries.

Anyway, the five-time Israeli champion Cohen, 25, was beaten by Christianne Legentil.