Rio 2016: Saudi competitor ‘forfeits match to avoid playing Israeli’

A Saudi judoka forfeited her first round match at the Olympic Games so she would not have to face an Israeli, it has been complained.

Joud Fahmy would have faced the Israeli competitor Gili Cohen if she had beaten Christianne Legentil, from Mauritius, in the opening round. Before the clash, however, Saudi officials tweeted that Fahmy had injured her arm and her leg during training and that as a result she would not fight.

Media outlets in Israel claimed that Fahmy, who was one of four female athletes Saudi Arabia sent to Rio, was not injured.

The Times of Israel reported that the 22-year-old had pulled out to avoid the chance of having to face Cohen, a five-time champion.

Saudi Arabia and Israel have no official relations and under Saudi law citizens are not permitted to visit. It also refuses to grant visas to Israelis.

The 25-year-old Cohen was beaten by Legentil.