Judo Federation on Statement Regarding Assault: “Unacceptable”

The German Judo Federation has strongly condemned Akaki Japaridze’s statements following his assault on Timo Cavelius. They said they were “stunned by the statement” made by the Georgian athlete, as well as “by the support and endorsement this post has received, in some cases even from respected international judo stars.” 

Japaridze, 24, of JC Leipzig, had beaten Cavelius—who competes for TSV Abensberg—so severely that he required hospitalization and suffered a broken jaw. The Georgian attempted to explain the reason for this outburst via Instagram. He wanted to make it clear, he wrote, that this incident “was not the result of emotions” triggered by the loss in the match.

Federation: Downplaying the incident is “unacceptable”

“The reason was different: the opponent’s insulting behavior toward me, both verbally and through gestures. This is just as completely unacceptable in sports and within the framework of sports ethics—and, first and foremost, unacceptable to me as a Georgian and as a man,” Japaridze wrote. The German Judo Federation stated: “Downplaying or even defending this serious assault is intolerable to us and incompatible with the fundamental principles of our sport.”

The fighter, who has since returned to Georgia, had lost a match against the German opponent. The German then raised a clenched fist toward his team and also toward the Georgian. Japaridze then suddenly attacked his opponent, seriously injuring him in the face.

Long Suspension for Cavelius

The national federation made it clear that the assault had nothing to do with the relationship between the clubs or between the two nations. “We’re not talking here about an emotional scuffle or an understandable escalation following an alleged provocation. This was a massive assault that carried the risk of extremely serious physical injuries,” wrote the German Judo Federation.

Cavelius, who underwent immediate surgery at Leipzig University Hospital following the incident last Saturday and had his jaw stabilized with three plates, must now wait another ten to twelve weeks before he can compete again. 

“I’m on the road to recovery,” Cavelius told dpa. Looking back, he said: “Even if my celebration may have triggered negative emotions in Akaki Japaridze, this can neither explain nor justify such an outburst of violence. I neither verbally insulted him nor physically attacked him.”