Serbian Judoka Disqualified for Praying at Olympic Games

During the Paris Olympic Games, Serbian judoka Nemanja Majdov faced disqualification after he was seen praying before his match against a Greek athlete in the round of 16. He lost the match due to three warnings, and subsequently did not shake hands with his opponent, offending the referees, reports rbc.ru.

Majdov, the 2017 World Judo Champion, announced that he has been banned for five months for demonstrating a religious gesture. He shared the news on his Instagram account.

“Fifteen days ago, I received a decision that the International Judo Federation (IJF) has disqualified me for five months for violating religious rules. Specifically, for praying before my match at the Olympic Games,” Majdov wrote.