International Judo Federation

History

On July 11, 1951 in London, the representatives of the European Judo Union (Great Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland) received the candidacy of Argentina and the International Judo Federation was created. The Italian Aldo Torti became the first President of the IJF. Countries from four continents were affiliated over the next ten years.

Since 2009, IJF has organized yearly World Championships and the World Judo Tour consisting of five Grand Prix, four Grand Slams, a master tournament, and a Continental open tournament.

In March 2009 it replaced the Pan American Judo Union with the Pan American Judo Confederation.

In September 2021, Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef were suspended for 10 years by the IJF after Nourine refused to fight an Israeli athlete during the 2020 Summer Olympics. Nourine said his political support for the Palestinians in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict made it impossible for him to compete against Israeli athletes.

The IJF initially named Russian President Vladimir Putin its honorary president and IJF Ambassador in 2008. However, that status was suspended and then stripped in 2022, in reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

'''Russia and Belarus suspension'''

In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the IJF cancelled all competitions in Russia, but allowed their athletes to compete as neutrals in individual and team competitions.

IJF President Marius Vizer, a long-time close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, wanted to let Russians and Belarusians continue to compete as neutral athletes despite the invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Ukrainian pressure to suspend them entirely. Ultimately, both national federations withdrew on their own accord, until June 2022 when they returned. Ukraine boycotted IJF events beginning in June 2022 because the Russian team was allowed to compete in and entered competitions. Judo is one of the few Olympic sports which goes against the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee.

The IJF announced on 29 April 2023, the last day of event registration for the 2023 World Championships, that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be allowed to participate as individual neutral athletes following background checks. Following the announcement, twenty Russian and Belarusian athletes were registered and entered into the championships. Of the twenty, at least five were reported to have ties with the Russian Armed Forces, despite the IOC's suggestion to deny participation of athletes who are contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies. In protest, the Ukrainian team withdrew from the championships.

In May 2025, the IJF allowed Belarusian athletes to compete in tournaments under the country's flag, and Russian athletes in early November.

Events

• World Judo Championships
• World Judo Juniors Championships (1974 to 2011 U20 / 2012 to now U21)
• World Judo Cadets Championships (U18)
• World Veterans Judo Championships (30+ to 80+ in 11 Age Group)
• World Kata Judo Championships [ja]
• IJF World Tour (Masters, Grand Slam, Grand Prix, Continental Open)

Presidents of the IJF

• Aldo Torti, Italy, 1951
• Risei Kano, son of Kanō Jigorō, Japan, 1952–1965
• Charles Palmer Great Britain, 1965–1979
• Shigeyoshi Matsumae, Japan, 1979–1987
• Sarkis Kaloghlian, Argentina, 1987–1989
• Lawrie Hargrave, New Zealand, 1989–1991
• Luis Baguena, Spain, 1991–1995
• Park Yong-sung, South Korea, 1995–2007
• Marius Vizer, Romania/Austria, 2007–present

References

References

1. (2006). "Black Belt Judo – Neil Ohlenkamp – Google Books". New Holland.
2. "History".
3. "Timeline".
4. (2009-05-03). "Pan American Judo Confederation Recognized by the International Judo Federation {{!}} News {{!}} USA Judo".
5. (14 September 2021). "Tokyo Olympics: Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine and coach suspended for 10 years". [[BBC Sport]].
6. (24 July 2021). "Algerian judoka sent home from Olympics after refusing to compete against Israeli".
7. (February 27, 2022). "International Judo Federation Suspends Putin as Honorary President". RFI.
8. "Official Announcement of the International Judo Federation".
9. (2022-03-07). "International Judo Federation strips titles from Vladimir Putin and Russian oligarch – CBS News".
10. (16 March 2022). "Citing safety concerns, Russia withdraws all judo athletes from international competition".
11. "Most Olympic federations suspend Russian athletes, but officials go free".
12. (25 June 2022). "Ukraine boycotts Olympic judo qualifier as Russians compete".
13. (29 April 2023). "Resolution Regarding the Participation of Russian and Belarusian Athletes in IJF Events". International Judo Federation.
14. (30 April 2023). "Ukraine set to boycott judo worlds after Russians allowed". [[Associated Press]].
15. (29 April 2023). "Drama in judo: The international federation decided to bring Russian and Belarussian athletes back to competition". [[Israel Hayom]].
16. (30 April 2023). "Ukraine will boycott the World Judo Championships: "The Rubles have won"". [[Israel Hayom]].
17. "World Judo Championships — Doha 2023 — Individuals — Nations — Individual Neutral Athletes".
18. (30 April 2023). "Ukraine boycott World Judo Championships after decision to readmit Russians". [[Inside the Games]].
19. (28 March 2023). "Following a request by the 11th Olympic Summit, IOC issues recommendations for International Federations and international sports event organisers on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions". [[International Olympic Committee]].
20. "Белорусские дзюдоисты допущены к международным стартам под госсимволами".
21. (2025-11-27). "Российские дзюдоисты снова смогут выступать под флагом страны".
22. "Sport: The Last Bridge for Reconciliation and Peace".
23. "International Judo Federation Executive Committee". International Judo Federation.