Taekwondo official denies Israeli participation in world championship in Tunisia

The President of the Taekwondo Confederation and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the World Taekwondo Championship, Ahmed Gaaloul, insists that the claims about the participation of four Israeli athletes in the tournament, which starts on Friday, are inaccurate. Gaaloul, who is also a member of the Shura Council of Ennahda Movement, added, however, that he does not yet have any official confirmation either way from the Tunisian authorities.

In an interview with Quds Press, Gaaloul expressed his regret that a number of Tunisian activists who are opposed to normalisation with Israel had raised the issue with him based on apparently incorrect information. The athletes in question are said to be members of the Israel Defence Forces.

“The law which regulates international sports sessions stipulates that all countries wishing to participate in world championships must register on the International Federation website,” he explained. “When we receive the request, we submit the details to the state authorities to study the nominations and grant visas.”

Read: Tunisia condemns Israeli attack on Palestinians in Gaza

Gaaloul pointed out that, as far as the organising committee and confederation are concerned, Israel has not finished the necessary legal procedures to allow its athletes to enter this tournament. As such, there is no official confirmation of the presence of its delegation, and the state authorities in Tunis have not officially informed the organisers of their decision on the matter.

On Tuesday, Tunisian activists claimed that four Israeli athletes who are in the IDF have been invited to take part in the tournament. They named the four as Nicole and Dana Azran, Abysha Samberg and Adamas Pashkovsky.