Cuban Judoka Disqualified for Biting his Opponent in the Olympics

Oreydi Despaigne and Ramziddin Sayidov

Oreydi Despaigne, Cuban judoka competing in the Olympics, was disqualified in the second round after allegedly biting his rival, Uzbek Ramziddin Sayidov.

The action came just half a minute to finish the fight, with a favorable marker for Despaigne.

The Uzbek threw his hand to take the flap of the kimono Despaigne but miscalculated and put his finger in the mouth of the Cuban. Sayidov reported a bite from the Cuban. Later, the judges and the arbitration board decreed disqualification of Despaigne.

Justo Noda, Cuban coach claimed that this has never happened to him in more than forty years as a judoka and trainer.

“I tried to talk to the judges and told them he (Uzbek) was the one who put his hand over his mouth. They told me no, that was a bite. How are you going to bite?, said Noda.

Meanwhile Despaigne claimed: “I feel good about the competition I did, but also feel disappointed by this injustice. My opponent threw his hand to my mouth, he broke it. Look! It is still swollen!”

(BG)