Islam El Shehaby, an Egyptian judoka, was sent home from the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro for refusing a handshake with Israeli Or Sasson.
El Shehaby, who lost Friday's fight to Sasson, was reprimanded by the International Olympic Committee and sent home by his team after he backed away from Sasson, who approached to shake hands, Reuters reported. The crowd booed El Shehaby's slight.
"The Disciplinary Commission (DC) considered that his behavior at the end of the competition was contrary to the rules of fair play and against the spirit of friendship embodied in the Olympic Values," the IOC said.
The IOC issued a "severe reprimand" and "asked the Egyptian Olympic Committee to ensure in future that all their athletes receive proper education on the Olympic Values before coming to the Olympic Games."
El Shehaby, 32, defended his actions.
"Shaking the hand of your opponent is not an obligation written in the judo rules. It happens between friends and he's not my friend," El Shehaby said after his bout.
El Shehaby, an ultraconservative Salafi Muslim, was pressured to withdraw from the match by Islamists who feared his losing would shame Islam and Egypt, The International Business Times reported. Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel, but tensions remain.
Twitter users shared mixed reactions to the incident.
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