Olympic athlete banned for five months over religious gesture at Paris Games --[Reported by Umva mag]

A judo champion has been suspended for five months for making the sign of the cross during the Olympics this summer.

Nemanja Majdov has been suspended by the International Judo Federation (IJF) for ‘having shown a clear religious sign when entering the field of play’.

The 28-year-old sign of the cross before his match against round of 16 match against Theodoros Tselidis in July.

The religious gesture is prohibited under Article 3 of the IJF Code of Ethics.

The Serb, who won the 2023 European Championship and the World Championship in 2017, and was the runner-up in the -90kg category at the World Championship this year, is now suspended from participating in all tournaments, camps, and preparations for the next five months.

Following the decision, Majdov said on Instagram that he was ‘sorry that such a beautiful and difficult sport like judo has fallen to such things’.

Speaking about his Christian faith, Majdov said: ‘The Lord has given me everything, both for me personally and for my career, and he is number 1 for me and I am proud of that. And that will not change under any circumstances.

‘Glory to Him and thanks for everything.’

His post read: ’15 days ago I received a decision that I was suspended for 5 months by the World Judo Federation (IJF) for violating their religious codes.

‘More precisely, because of [making a sign of the cross] when entering a match at the Olympic Games.

‘I was banned from participating in all tournaments, camps and preparations.

‘True, in the defence letter of the disciplinary proceedings I did not want to apologise… and of course I did not, nor will I ever, although I did not even know what the punishment could be.

‘The Lord has given me everything, both for me personally and for my career, and he is number 1 for me and I am proud of that. And that will not change under any circumstances. Glory to Him and thanks for everything.

‘Nothing new for me personally, just a new page in my career and a new life experience. I’m sorry that such a beautiful and difficult sport like judo has fallen to such things.

‘God gave me a great career, 7 European and 3 world medals. When I started, I dreamed of winning at least one big medal and thus succeeding in my life and the life of my family, who sacrificed everything for my career.

‘He gave us a lot more, and even borrowed too much so that I would bow my head in front of them when it came either-or.

‘We will rest until then, and then we will return with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ to a new beginning and new victories.’

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