An athlete was suspended for five months after making a religious gesture at the Paris Games.

Nemanja Majdov, a renowned judo champion, found himself at the center of controversy when he made the sign of the cross before his match at the Olympic Games this summer. As a result, he has been suspended by the International Judo Federation for five months for "having shown a clear religious sign when entering the field of play."

The 28-year-old Serbian, who has an impressive record of winning the 2023 European Championship and the 2017 World Championship, as well as being the runner-up in the -90kg category at this year's World Championship, will now be unable to participate in any tournaments, camps, or preparations for the next five months. This decision came after the IJF deemed Majdov's religious gesture to be in violation of their Code of Ethics, specifically Article 3 which prohibits any form of religious expression on the field of play.

Upon hearing the news, Majdov took to Instagram to express his feelings about the situation. He stated that he was "sorry that such a beautiful and difficult sport like judo has fallen to such things," questioning the presence of "Christianophobia" in the sport. He also reaffirmed his strong Christian faith, acknowledging that the Lord has been his source of strength and success throughout his career.

In his post, Majdov shared that he had received the decision 15 days prior and chose not to apologize for his actions, despite knowing the potential consequences. He went on to say that he has no regrets and will continue to proudly represent his faith in all aspects of his life. Majdov also reflected on his achievements in judo, grateful for the opportunities that God has given him and his family, who have made many sacrifices for his career.

Despite the suspension and the disappointment of missing out on a medal at the Olympics, Majdov remains steadfast in his faith and is looking forward to the future. He sees this experience as a new chapter in his career, and is confident that with the help of the Lord, he will continue to achieve success in the world of judo.

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