An Algerian judoka was suspended after withdrawing to avoid meeting an Israeli opponent.

The Olympic judo competition found itself mired in a political controversy even before Saturday’s start at the Nippon Budokan.

Having traveled all the way to Tokyo, Fethi Nourine, an Algerian judoka, withdrew from the event after learning that he most likely faced a bout against an Israeli opponent, Tohar Butbul, if the two men progressed to the second round.

Nourine’s withdrawal from the 73-kilogram category added another layer of controversy to an Olympics already facing a backdrop of coronavirus infections and local opposition. It also led to a furious and rapid response from judo’s governing body, which has grown weary of athletes who refuse to fight competitors from Israel.

Nourine and his coach, Amar Benikhlef, have already been temporarily suspended by the International Judo Federation, which is almost certain to impose further sanctions. The Algerian Olympic committee withdrew their Olympic credentials and was preparing to send them home.

Statements made by both men to Algerian news media about their withdrawal being linked to the prospect of facing an Israeli opponent was “in total opposition to the philosophy of the International Judo Federation,” the governing body said on its website. “The I.J.F. has a strict nondiscrimination policy, promoting solidarity as a key principle, reinforced by the values of judo.”

Nourine also withdrew from the judo world championship in 2019 after learning that he was scheduled to take on Butbul. That event also took place at the Nippon Budokan, the Tokyo venue that is host to this year’s Olympic competition.

Judo’s governing body has found itself having to take firm action amid anti-Israel sentiment expressed by some athletes in some of its most important tournaments. Iran, for example, received a four-year suspension in 2019 after refusing to allow its judokas to face Israelis. The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the ban earlier this year, saying that while Iran deserved to be punished, the blanket ban went too far.

Saeid Mollaei, now fighting for Mongolia after having fled Iran, said he was ordered to lose a semifinal bout at the 2019 world championships in order to avoid a potential final against the Israeli world champion Sagi Muki.