To Compete or Not: Algerian Judoka Messaoud Dris Withdraws from Olympic Match to Avoid Israeli Opponent

By Omar Ezz El-Deen On Jul 29, 2024

Another bold act of solidarity shook up the action-packed 2024 Paris Olympics.

Algerian judoka Messaoud Redouane Dris was disqualified for not making weight before his match against an Israeli opponent at the Olympic Games.

Everyone took to social media, suggesting that this was a clear message of support for Palestine and a bold statement against the ongoing Gaza genocide. While Dris hasn’t officially confirmed this as his reason, the buzz is undeniable, and we’ll tell you why in a bit.

What Happened?

The 22-year-old Messaoud Redouane Dris was set to compete against Israeli judoka Tohar Butbul in the -73 kg category on Monday.

However, Dris exceeded the 73 kg weight limit during the weigh-in and was subsequently removed from the draw. Organizers confirmed his disqualification, granting Butbul a walkover to the next round.

Official Reactions

Algeria’s judo federation has not issued a public statement so far, and Messaoud has also remained silent on that matter.

But, according to the BBC, the Israeli side has strongly criticized the act, labeling it as deliberate and intentional.

Then, Why The Buzz?

This isn’t the first time an Algerian athlete has opted out of competing against an Israeli opponent at the Olympics. Three years ago, at the Tokyo Games, Fethi Nourine from Algeria also withdrew to avoid facing an Israeli competitor—the same opponent Messaoud Dris was scheduled to meet.

At the time, Nourine said his withdrawal was due to his support for the Palestinian cause. Because of this public announcement, the International Judo Federation (IJF) suspended both him and his coach, Amar Benikhlef, for 10 years.

Will Messaoud face the same consequences? So far, no official statement has been made about his reasons, leaving open the question of whether he will receive a similar penalty.

Officially, Dris didn’t forfeit intentionally but rather didn’t make weight, so no action will likely be taken against him.

But considering Algeria’s stance against Israel—it doesn’t recognize it as a state— and previous sports incidents, Dris’ actions can be interpreted as a bout of support for Palestine. That’s why there’s been so much buzz on social media.

To Compete or Not

Given the decades of suffering committed by Israel in Palestine, when it comes to sports, what is the right thing to do? Compete or not to compete?

Some argue that it’s best to compete and defeat them on the mat.

Others believe that refusal highlights a crucial fact: How can you compete against something you don’t acknowledge, something that never existed?

One of the users even commented: “He didn’t even recognize him as an opponent to fight against – which is equivalent to not recognizing israhell as a state. Kudos.”