Serbian judo world champion Nemanja Majdov has been suspended for five months by the International Judo Federation (IJF) for making the sign of the cross before his match at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Majdov, a devout Christian, violated the IJF’s Code of Ethics, which prohibits any religious expression during competitions. The suspension marks the latest conflict between Majdov’s religious convictions and the sport’s governing rules.
Majdov, who frequently shares his faith on social media, refused to apologize for his actions. In a statement on Instagram, he affirmed that his faith is more important than any sport or rule. “The Lord has given me everything, both for me personally and for my career,” Majdov said, adding that he will not apologize for the sign of the cross. He remains committed to his beliefs and is willing to accept the consequences of his faith-based actions.
The IJF released a statement explaining its decision, noting that the suspension is meant to preserve the ethical standards of judo, a sport that prides itself on neutrality. The organization insists that while it respects all cultures and religions, religious gestures are not allowed on the field of play. The goal, the IJF said, is to keep judo competitions solely about the sport itself, without external influences.
Majdov has a history of clashes with the IJF over his religious expressions. In 2018 and again in 2022, he was warned for similar actions, but the 28-year-old champion has refused to back down. Now, he faces a five-month ban from all judo-related events, including tournaments and training camps.
Despite the suspension, Majdov has had an illustrious career. He was the 2017 world champion, the 2023 European champion, and has won five gold medals in international judo tournaments. Majdov remains optimistic about his return, expressing faith that he will come back stronger after this break. “We will return with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he said.
