The Paris Olympics are long over, but the scandals continue. World judo champion Nemanja Maidov has been suspended for five months due to events at the 2024 Olympics. The reason that is being talked about everywhere is that the Serb crossed himself before going out on the tatami.
“The Lord gave me everything”
Nemanja Maidov was one of the medal contenders in Paris, but he ended his performance in the up to 90 kg category quite early, in the round of 16. In the duel with Theodoros Tselidis, the Serb received three yellow cards, which resulted in an early defeat. Nemanja was so upset by the defeat that he did not even shake his opponent’s hand or bow to the judges.
Before entering this unfortunate fight, Maidov crossed himself, which became a reason for proceedings by the International Judo Federation (IJF).
“By demonstrating a clear religious gesture upon entering the tatami and refusing to bow to his opponent at the end of the competition, he has committed a potential violation of the International Judo Federation Code of Ethics of 27 February 2023, Article 3,” the IJF said in its message to the Serbian judoka.
According to the IJF code of ethics, athletes are prohibited from displaying religious symbols. This was done so that representatives of one faith could not inadvertently offend representatives of another. Therefore, according to the current regulations, Nemanja’s actions were illegal.
However, many questions arose about judo at the Olympic Games:
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The process ended on September 1, after Maidov himself announced it on the 15th. On his social media page, the athlete said he had been suspended for five months for making a religious gesture.
“15 days ago I received the decision that the International Judo Federation has suspended me for five months in accordance with their religious rules. I was suspended for crossing myself at the Olympic Games.
I was banned from all tournaments, training camps and coaching sessions. It is true that in my defense speech I did not want to apologize for the baptism, of course, I will never do so; although at that time I did not know for how long I could be suspended. The Lord has given me everything, both personally and in my career, for me he is number one. This will not change under any circumstances. Glory to him for everything.
“For me, a new stage in my career has begun, a new stage in my life. I regret that such a beautiful and difficult sport like judo has fallen into such a mess. God has given me a lot in my career: seven medals at the European Championships and three medals at the World Championships. When I started, I dreamed of winning at least one big medal and thus achieving success in my life and in my family, who sacrificed everything for my career. God gave me a lot, even too much for me to give up. For now, I will rest and then I will return with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ to a new beginning and new victories,” Nemanja wrote.
Maidov’s post was supported by many famous personalities: tennis player Novak Djokovic, actor Milos Bikovich, volleyball players Vladimir Grbic and Alexander Atanasevich.
Serbian judoka Nemanja Majdov
Photo: Panorámica/Zuma/TASS
“Satanic garbage”
There is just one caveat. After that same fight at the Olympics with Tselidis, Nemanja was so upset that he spoke very rudely on social media about the judges and the Olympics in general.
“Satanic filth. Your seed is poisoned… Disqualifying me in two minutes and not giving me a chance to show anything at all… These values of yours, sport and the Olympics are just ordinary rubbish. That’s all. Every tear will come back to you, Satanist shit. This is the only way to stop me, you bastards.
“Judo is a lost sport. 100% judicial control of the outcome of the fight… Those who want to bow down and bow to them are sold out. You will never get this from me. I don’t need that medal, poor thing. We have been under pressure for four years, 15 disqualifications, but you keep quiet because you don’t want to miss the Olympics, and when you get there it’s again the classic: they send you home before you’ve even warmed up,” Maiov wrote.
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These posts have now been deleted and the IJF has not officially responded to them in any way. At the same time, Nemanja himself, speaking about his disqualification, shared the incomplete text of the letter from the international federation. It is not clear whether these two situations are somehow connected. The International Judo Federation itself has not commented on Maidov’s disqualification.
If Nemanja really was banned just for crossing himself, then perhaps the IJF should consider being more tolerant of religion.
But if the international federation also took into account the athlete’s open insults towards the judges, then the picture changes significantly. Given the tone of what Maydov wrote, it is no longer possible to perceive him as a humble martyr, punished because of religion.
