IJF suspends Abu Dhabi Grand Slam and the Tunis Grand Prix

Last year, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam was criticized for refusing to display Israel's flag for the country's athletes and for not playing the Israeli national anthem.

The United Arab Emirates has no diplomatic ties with Israel and, like most other Arab countries, doesn't recognize Israel as a state.

Earlier this year, World Taekwondo -- the sport's governing body -- issued a statement regretting a Tunisian court's decision to ban four Israeli athletes from competing at the World Junior Championships in Hammamet.



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'The International Judo Federation is committed to promoting the moral principles and values of Judo, Olympism and sport in general, thus making an active contribution to the promotion of peace and equality between nations, races and genders,' the IJF wrote in a statement.

Judo's moral code, created by the sport's founder Jigoro Kano, preaches a set of ethics encouraging friendship, courage and honor.

READ: Israeli judoka Tal Flicker -- 'Sport should overcome all the politics'

READ: Israeli judo star Tal Flicker wins gold in UAE; officials refuse to play anthem

'The IJF Statutes reflect this approach in article 1. 2: 'IJF shall not discriminate on the ground of race, religion, gender or political opinion,'' added the IJF statement.

Israeli judoka Tal Flicker won gold in the men's half-lightweight division at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam last year, but tournament organizers refused to raise Israel's flag or play the national anthem.

Instead of Hatikvah, Israel's traditional national anthem, tournament organizers played the official music of the IJF and raised the logo of judo's governing body in place of the Israeli flag.

In quiet defiance, Flicker sang Hatikvah quietly to himself atop the podium.

'It was weird,' Flicker told CNN Sport at the time. 'Israel is my country and I'm proud to be from Israel.

'I sang Hatikvah because I don't know anything else. This is my anthem.'

At the event in Abu Dhabi, Flicker and 11 of his competing compatriots were forced to wear judogis (judo uniforms) without the typical identifying symbols of their nationality.

Earlier that same day, fellow Israeli Gili Cohen -- bronze medalist in the women's half-lightweight division -- stood and watched as the IJF's flag was raised in place of her nation's.

'Prior to this decision and after carefully analyzing the past situations involving the denial of participation in equal conditions of all IJF member federations ... the IJF officially requested the two organizers to provide a letter of guarantee signed by the government that all IJF member nations would have the right to participate in their events in equal conditions,' the statement of judo's governing body continued.

'As no positive answer was received to date, the International Judo Federation's Executive Committee decided to suspend both the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam and the Tunis Grand Prix until governmental guarantee is given to ensure free and equal participation of all nations at the said events.'

The organizers of the two events did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment.

'It was weird,' Flicker told CNN Sport at the time. 'Israel is my country and I'm proud to be from Israel. 'It was weird,' Flicker told CNN Sport at the time. 'Israel is my country and I'm proud to be from Israel. READ: Israeli judoka Tal Flicker -- 'Sport should overcome all the politics' 'Prior to this decision and after carefully analyzing the past situations involving the denial of participation in equal conditions of all IJF member federations ... the IJF officially requested the two organizers to provide a letter of guarantee signed by the government that all IJF member nations would have the right to participate in their events in equal conditions,' the statement of judo's governing body continued. Earlier this year, World Taekwondo -- the sport's governing body -- issued a statement regretting a Tunisian court's decision to ban four Israeli athletes from competing at the World Junior Championships in Hammamet. The organizers of the two events did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment. Earlier that same day, fellow Israeli Gili Cohen -- bronze medalist in the women's half-lightweight division -- stood and watched as the IJF's flag was raised in place of her nation's. The organizers of the two events did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment. 'I sang Hatikvah because I don't know anything else. This is my anthem.' READ: Israeli judoka Tal Flicker -- 'Sport should overcome all the politics' READ: Israeli judoka Tal Flicker -- 'Sport should overcome all the politics' 'It was weird,' Flicker told CNN Sport at the time. 'Israel is my country and I'm proud to be from Israel. Earlier that same day, fellow Israeli Gili Cohen -- bronze medalist in the women's half-lightweight division -- stood and watched as the IJF's flag was raised in place of her nation's. Last year, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam was criticized for refusing to display Israel's flag for the country's athletes and for not playing the Israeli national anthem. Earlier this year, World Taekwondo -- the sport's governing body -- issued a statement regretting a Tunisian court's decision to ban four Israeli athletes from competing at the World Junior Championships in Hammamet. 'As no positive answer was received to date, the International Judo Federation's Executive Committee decided to suspend both the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam and the Tunis Grand Prix until governmental guarantee is given to ensure free and equal participation of all nations at the said events.'

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