Zurab Epitashvili, member of Georgian youth judo team, can face serious punishment. On the last weekend, at European Cup, Georgian judoka protested decision of referee by taking off kimono and throwing it on tatami. Management of European Judo Union informed Georgian Judo Federation that Epitashvili could face strict sanction.

“Sportsman will be punished. Perhaps, head coach Giorgi Gugava will be punished too because he did not tell Epitashvili to go back to tatami” – stated acting president of Judo Federation Giorgi Aleksidze.

Lado Vardzelashvili, minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, made a strict statement about the federation:

“Unfortunately, there are many misunderstandings in judo. We warned them for the last time. If this situation does not settle, our attitude toward the management of the federation will change”.

International Judo Federation will make final decision about this incident in two weeks, at the Paris congress. Perhaps, Zurab Epitashvili will be disqualified.
 

Otar Maglakelidze