The International Judo Federation (IJF) has been informed today that in the arbitration case under caption regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran Judo Federation’s suspension, the CAS decided on March 1st, 2021 to refer the matter back to the IJF Disciplinary Commission for “eventual further decisions”. The CAS award has established that the Islamic Republic of Iran Judo Federation committed serious breaches of the principles of political neutrality and non-discrimination and that accordingly, the Islamic Republic of Iran Judo Federation “could validly be imposed a suspension or an expulsion”. However, the CAS considered in substance that inasmuch as the suspension was not clearly limited in its duration, the case should be referred back to the IJF Disciplinary Commission. The IJF also noted that the CAS allocated an amount of CHF 5’000.- to be paid by the Islamic Republic of Iran Judo Federation to the IJF as contribution to the latter’s fees and expenses.
Taking into account the content of the CAS award as well as recent statements made by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Judo Federation against an Iranian athlete, the International Judo Federation is currently considering what further action and decisions will be taken. These should be communicated as soon as they have been adopted.