Iranian pulls out of Israeli clash

Iran’s Olympic flagbearer Arash Miresmaeili was today officially withdrawn from the men’s 66-kilogram judo competition after failing to make the weight - despite claims he was made unavailable for political reasons.

Miraesmaeli, the world champion, was due to meet Israeli judoka Ehud Vaks in the first round of the competition but failed to make the weight, an incident which “surprised” the International Judo Federation.

It is not yet clear by how much he missed the weight.

“The IJF is very surprised that such an elite player could not make his weight,” said communications manager Michel Brousse.

“At the moment we have someone who is representing his country and did not make the weight. We have to know more about it.

“We are meeting this afternoon and a decision will be taken. Today the official reason is that he is overweight.”

Miresmaeili is reported to have been withdrawn from facing the Israeli because of Iran’s support for Palestine, though no official notification was issued.

In fact, the IJF received letters yesterday by officials of the Iranian Judo Federation denying reports that Miresmaeili would withdraw from the Olympics on political grounds.

“We sent this information to the IOC,” said Brousse. “We don’t know if (the reports) are true or not true. We have to study that. At the moment we don’t have the right information.

“As regards the political issue, I just want to say that the IJF want to promote the values of judo. Let me remind you what they said in the opening ceremony. We heard his excellency Kofi Annan (secretary general of the United Nations) recalling the Olympic truce. We heard IOC president Jacques Rogge calling for the values of tolerance, solidarity, peace and friendship.

“These are the values of the IOC, these are the values of judo so we would like these values to be promoted in judo.”

But on Friday, Vaks told Great Britain’s performance director Udo Quellmalz he knew Miresmaeili would not be competing – and it is not a new situation in judo.

It has happened four times in recent years, including at the 2001 World Championships when Mahed Malekmohammadi failed to meet Yoe Razozov.