Egyptian athlete who refused Israeli handshake faces disciplinary probe
Following the Israeli Olympian's victory over Arab competitor Islam El Shelby, the defeated judoka refused a traditional handshake
The International Olympic Committee has set up a disciplinary process after an Egyptian competitor refused to shake the hand of his Israeli opponent.
Or Sasson defeated Islam El Shehaby by a point to progress to the quarter-final of the 100kg judo after dominating his fight in Rio.
However video footage showed him moving away from the Israeli as the latter put out his hand at the end of the contest, as is traditional in judo.
An IOC spokesman told the Jewish News: “The President has immediately set up a disciplinary commission to look into this incident.”
El Shehaby had previously come under pressure on social media to skip the bout, but had reportedly been warned by Egyptian authorities he risked losing his citizenship.
It comes a week after Lebanese delegates stopped the Israelis from boarding a bus they were travelling on ahead of the Opening Ceremony. The Lebanese were quickly chastised by the IOC over the incident.
DISGRACEFUL!
Egyptian refuses to shake hand of Israeli Judoka Or Sasson after being defeated by him at #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/uCbG39V9oW— We Stand With Israel (@SussexFriends) August 12, 2016
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