Israeli judoka Tohar Butbul advanced to the round of 16 in the 2024 Paris Olympics (under 73 kg) on Sunday without breaking a sweat after his first-round opponent, Algerian Massoud Dris, announced he would not compete.
This is not the first time an Algerian opponent has withdrawn to avoid facing Butbul at the Olympics. Three years ago in Tokyo, Fethi Nourine pulled out to avoid a match with the Israeli athlete.
(Reporting by Raz Shechnik and Nadav Zenziper, Paris)