Prefer Jewish News on Google
Iran judo star told to throw bouts to avoid Israelis gets refugee status
Saeid Mollaei given asylum by Germany after he was told to deliberately lose at the 2019 World Championships in Tokyo to avoid an Israeli competitor
Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei, who fled to Germany after he said he was forced to throw matches at the 2019 World Championships in Tokyo to not have to face an Israeli opponent, has been granted “recognised refugee” status.
The status allows Mollaei to live legally in Germany, where he has resumed his training with an eye toward competing on the so-called refugee team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the International Judo Federation reported.
Secreted out of Tokyo to Germany during the World Championships in August with the help of International Judo Federation chief Marius Vizer, Mollaei confirmed that Iranian authorities and the Iran Judo Federation ordered him to withdraw from competing in such matches — something that has been suspected for decades.
Mollaei threw his semi-final match so he would not have to face Israel’s Sagi Muki, who went on to win the gold medal at the 2019 World Judo Championships in Tokyo in the under-81 kilogram (179 pounds) category. He has been accused of faking injuries and intentionally losing judo matches in the past to avoid facing the Israeli
Mollaei must now obtain travel papers and continue to participate in competitions on the World Judo Tour in order to collect points on the World Ranking List so that he can make it to the Olympics.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
