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A Serbian judoka made the sign of the cross on himself going into a fight at the Paris Olympics and was disqualified for 5 months.
- 15 days ago, I received a decision from the International Judo Federation that I was suspended for five months for violating its religious code. Specifically for the fact that I crossed myself while performing at the Olympic Games,’ Serbian Maidov wrote.

Maidov crossed his arms before entering the bout against Greek Theodoros Tselidis. The bout lasted a couple of minutes and the Romanian referee showed three yellow cards to the Balkan, which means an early defeat. However, Maidov did not agree with this decision of the referee and burst into tears right on the tatami out of offence. And after the fight he published an angry post against the judges and the organisers of the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

- Satanic garbage!. Disqualify me after two minutes and not give me a chance to show anything at all... These values of yours, sport and the Olympics are just garbage. That's all. Every tear will come back to you. This is the only way to stop me,’ Maidov wrote at the time.
Soon after, the athlete posted a letter from the International Judo Federation on his personal social networks. And it was clearly and understandably stated - he was ‘charged’ with showing a religious gesture! Well, yes, in addition to the emotional breakdown after the defeat, they said exactly that - you showed a religious gesture when entering the tatami.
The athlete himself says that he is not ready to give up his faith:

- Of course, in my defence speech I didn't want to apologise for my baptism. I will never do that. God has given me everything, he is number one for me. That will not change under any circumstances. I am sorry that a sport as beautiful and difficult as judo has fallen to such things,’ Maidov wrote.