Judo Champion Banned After making ‘Cross Sign’ At Olympic Games

• The Olympic’s gold medalist of the judo game has been banned.

• The champion, Nemanja Majdovwas banned after displaying his religious faith.

The judo Champion of the just concluded 2024 Olympics has been banned from all forms of games and events.

Nemanja Majdov, 28 has been reportedly banned for five months for depicting his religious sign and breaching the organization rules.

Daily Report Nigeria recalls that during the Olympics, Nemanja was seen doing the sign of the cross, before hia game.

Weeks later he got a suspension from the IJF.

While revealing this on his official Instagram page, he noted that he was asked to apologize, but he would not compromise his religious beliefs.

He  said;

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.’

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‘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.