IOC: Egyptian who wouldn’t shake Israeli’s hand reprimanded

The IOC announced today that an Egyptian judo athlete has been sent home after refusing to shake hands with his Israeli counterpart who beat him in a match on Friday. But when Sasson bowed to his counterpart and extended his hand, Shehaby simply backed away.

El Shehaby was roundly booed by the crowd and was called back to the stage for his failure to bow to his opponent as it contravenes judo rules. “The Olympics is built on respect”.

El Shehaby, 32, had reportedly been pressured by fans on social media not to show up for the match with his Israeli opponent, who went on to win bronze in the +100kg category, because it would shame Islam. “It happens between friends and he’s not my friend”, El Shehaby said after the bout.

In response to the episode, International Judo Federation spokesman Nicolas Messner said that the organization will look into the incident and decide whether to take any action, according to Lebanese news agency Naharnet.

Shehaby claimed he didn’t break any rules by not shaking Sasson’s hand moments after the Israeli threw him to the mat, beating him.

El Shehaby, an ultraconservative Salafi Muslim, had come under pressure from Islamist-leaning and nationalist voices in Egypt before the Rio Games to withdraw, but competed anyway. “Don’t be fooled, or fool yourself, thinking you will play with the Israeli athlete to defeat him and make Egypt happy”, he said. El Shehaby refused to comment afterward. In 1979, Egypt became the first Arab nation to recognize Israel with the signing of a peace treaty between the two countries.