Nemanja Majdov, a Serbian judo champion and devout Christian, was suspended for five months by the International Judo Federation (IJF) after making the sign of the cross before his Olympic match in Paris. The IJF deemed Majdov’s actions a violation of their ethical code, which prohibits religious gestures during competitions.
Majdov, however, remains defiant, refusing to apologize for his public display of faith. “The Lord has given me everything, both for me personally and for my career,” he posted on Instagram, making it clear that his religious convictions will not be compromised.
Majdov’s suspension follows previous warnings from the IJF in 2018 and 2022 regarding similar behavior. The governing body stated that it aims to protect the ethical values of the sport, though it insists it respects all cultures and religions.
Majdov, a former world champion with five international gold medals, expressed disappointment in the suspension but vowed to use the time to rest and return to the sport with his faith guiding him.
