An Egyptian fighter who refused to shake hands with an Israeli rival who beat him has been sent home in disgrace.
Islam El Shehaby turned away from his opponent Or Sasson when the victor offered his hand after a fight last Friday:
He followed up by telling interviewers he would not shake hands with any Israeli, “especially in front of the whole world”.
El Shehaby, a conservative Muslim, was voicing the anti-Israel feelings of many in Egypt, which has fought several wars with Israel and shares a border.
It is a virtually universal custom for competitors to shake hands after a fight – though not an explicit part of the rules.
The breach of etiquette saw him sent home by the Egyptian Olympic team – and also censured by disciplinary experts.
Sasson went on to win a bronze medal for Israel.
Speaking after the fight, El Sehaby said: “Shaking the hand of your opponent is not an obligation written in the judo rules. It happens between friends and he’s not my friend.
“I have no problem with Jewish people or any other religion or different beliefs.
“But for personal reasons, you can’t ask me to shake the hand of anyone from this State, especially in front of the whole world.”
Sasson shrugged the controversy off, and said “it was his [El Shehaby’s] decision”.
An International Olympic Committee spokesman said: ‘The Disciplinary Commission (DC) considered that his behaviour at the end of the competition was contrary to the rules of fair play and against the spirit of friendship embodied in the Olympic Values.”
The snub was not the first display of tensions between Israel and rival nations. Earlier in the competition, Lebanese athletes refused to share a bus with those from Israel.
Israel has won two bronze medals in Rio so far, both in Judo.