Judo Star Disqualified Over Antics After Match
The 2024 Paris Olympics have been full of intense competition, but the drama isn’t just confined to the sports themselves.
In the latest turn of events, Georgian judo star Guram Tushishvili found himself at the center of a major controversy after an outburst during his quarterfinal match against French judo legend Teddy Riner. This incident led to Tushishvili’s immediate disqualification, putting an abrupt end to his Olympic journey and potentially impacting his future in the sport.
So, here’s what went down: Tushishvili was up against Riner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, in the 100kg category. Riner, who has a storied career in judo, was the favorite going into the match, despite Tushishvili’s impressive silver medal performance at the 2020 Tokyo Games. The match reached its climax when Riner executed an ippon, a match-ending move that secured his victory.
But instead of accepting the defeat, Tushishvili lashed out in frustration. He first shoved Riner using his leg, and then, as Riner attempted to get up, Tushishvili got in his face and knocked him down again. This aggressive behavior shocked onlookers and commentators alike. One commentator on Eurosport remarked, “What is this aggressiveness? This is not OK, this will get Georgia disqualified.”
ツシシビリとリネールの幼稚な争い
🇬🇪 Guram Tushishvili vs 🇫🇷 Teddy Riner #柔道 #JUDO pic.twitter.com/6kjcfrlCa1
— 𝗱𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘇 (@DDDEmz) August 2, 2024
And disqualified he was. The International Judo Federation (IJF), the governing body for Olympic judo, acted swiftly. In their statement, they condemned Tushishvili’s behavior as being against the “spirit of judo,” and they took several actions. First, they disqualified him from continuing in the individual competition, which ended his chances for a bronze medal.
They also suspended him from the mixed team event on Saturday, a significant blow to Georgia’s hopes in that category. Finally, they announced that Tushishvili is suspended from all international judo competitions until the IJF’s Disciplinary Commission makes a final decision. Further investigations are underway to determine the full consequences of his actions.
This incident is just the latest in a series of disqualifications and controversies that have plagued the Paris Olympics. For instance, a Brazilian swimmer was sent home after spending a night out without notifying her team, amid allegations of harassment.
Meanwhile, a U.K. rugby player was ejected following the leak of a social media conversation containing alleged racial remarks. Even judges have been caught up in scandals, like an Australian surfing judge who was sent home after an “inappropriate” photo with members of the Australian team surfaced.
And let’s not forget the ongoing controversy surrounding two intersex boxers who were allowed to compete despite being barred from previous championships. This decision has sparked debate, especially after one of the boxers, Algerian Imane Khelif, won her first match in just 46 seconds.