Fighting Scandal: Judoka Banned for Life from the Bundesliga

First decision following the assault scandal: Akaki Japaridze has been banned for life by the Judo Bundesliga executive committee following his assault. The 24-year-old Georgian is therefore permanently barred from being registered with or competing for any club in the top division of the German Judo Federation (DJB).

League spokesperson Pamela Bickendorf said in a statement that she was satisfied with the outcome of the proceedings. Japaridze is also facing proceedings before the Georgian Judo Federation and the International Judo Federation (IJF), as well as criminal charges in Germany.

Japaridze broke his opponent’s jaw after the match

Japaridze, competing as a guest fighter for JC Leipzig, beat his opponent Timo Cavelius (29) of TSV Abensberg so badly that he required hospitalization. During the violent attack, Japaridze even broke his opponent’s jaw; Cavelius, a German Olympian, will miss the World Championships in Baku due to his injury. Afterward, the Georgian posted on Instagram, stating that he would not shirk responsibility for what had happened. However, he also wrote that he wanted to clarify that this incident “was not the result of emotions” triggered by the sporting defeat. Japaridze then wrote about his opponent’s insulting behavior.

“Downplaying or even defending this serious physical assault is unacceptable to us and incompatible with the fundamental principles of our sport,” the DJB commented on Japaridze’s account.

League Spokesperson: One Thing Is Reassuring

“During the proceedings, all sides repeatedly emphasized that something like this had never happened ‘in our sport’ before. I find that reassuring and it makes me proud because it stands for our sport and our values,” the league official explained following the decision, which also included further measures. Consequently, the first-leg match between Japaridze and Cavelius, which Japaridze won, will be counted as a loss for Japaridze. The team match between Leipzig and Abensberg will ultimately be scored 7–7, with a point differential of 62–57.