The sanctions fall.
Two Georgian judo silver medalists lost their accreditation to the Tokyo Olympics for breaking anti-Covid rules by leaving the Olympic Village, an official from their National Olympic Committee (NOC) said on Saturday.
This is the first known case of athletes sanctioned at the Games opened on July 23 for not having respected the severe restrictions in force which notably prohibit participants from leaving their accommodation, except to train and participate in competitions.
Vazha Margvelashvili, 27, and Lasha Shavdatuashvili, 29, ventured out of the Olympic Village to meet “
one of their good acquaintances
” who lives in Japan, a Georgian NOC official admitted on condition of anonymity. “
When they left the Village, no one stopped them at the exit. So they thought they could get out,
”the official told AFP. "
They just wanted to get some fresh air, to relax after a difficult day of competition, after a difficult period of confinement
." The two athletes had missed the gold medal in fights against Japanese judokas. Margvelashvili faced Hifumi Abe on Sunday, while Shavdatuashvili lost to Shohei Ono on Monday.
The Georgian NOC official said the two men's accreditation was revoked on Friday, but they have now left Japan to return home.
Tokyo-2020 organizers said earlier on Saturday that they had taken disciplinary action against at least one participant in the Olympics on Friday, without giving details.
"
It is inadmissible for a person to leave the Olympic Village for sightseeing,
" said spokesperson for the organizing committee, Masa Takaya.