Amar Benikhlef

{{Infobox judoka

| image = 2008 Judo men's 90 kg.JPG

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|11 January 1982}}

| birth_place =

| country = Algeria

| weight_class = {{nbnd}}81 kg, {{nbnd}}90 kg

| rank =

| rank_ref =

| dan =

| worlds_rank = R16

| worlds_year = 2011

| worlds_weight = Men's 90 kg

| regionals_type = AF

| regionals_rank = 1

| regionals_year = 2004

| regionals_weight =

| regionals_year2 = 2008

| regionals_weight2 =

| regionals_year3 = 2010

| regionals_weight3 =

| regionals_year4 = 2011

| regionals_weight4 =

| nationals =

| olympics_rank = 2

| olympics_year = 2008

| olympics_weight = Men's 90 kg

| show-medals =

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country| {{ALG}} }}

{{Medal|S| 2008 Beijing | {{nbnd}}90 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2007 Algiers | {{nbnd}}90 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2004 Tunis | {{nbnd}}81 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2008 Agadir | {{nbnd}}90 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2010 Yaounde | {{nbnd}}90 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2011 Dakar | {{nbnd}}90 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2006 Mauritius | {{nbnd}}90 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2012 Agadir | {{nbnd}}90 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2013 Maputo | {{nbnd}}90 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2008 Tokyo | {{nbnd}}90 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2010 Paris | {{nbnd}}90 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2009 Pescara | {{nbnd}}100 kg }}

| updated = 30 May 2023

}}

Amar Benikhlef (born 11 January 1982) is an Algerian judoka who competed in the middleweight division. He won the silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. In September 2021, Benikhlef was suspended for 10 years, until July 2031 for "a clear and very serious breach of the IJF Statutes, the IJF Code of Ethics and the Olympic Charter.".{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/58556940| title=Tokyo Olympics: Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine and coach suspended for 10 years| work=BBC Sport| date=14 September 2021| accessdate=14 September 2021}}{{cite news| url=https://www.nu.nl/sport-overig/6156897/algerijnse-judoka-die-weigerde-tegen-israelier-uit-te-komen-tien-jaar-geschorst.html| title=Algerijnse judoka die weigerde tegen Israëliër uit te komen tien jaar geschorst| work=NU.nl| language=nl| date=13 September 2021| accessdate=14 September 2021}}{{cite web |title=IJF Disciplinary Commission - Decision case 2021-8, 2021-9 - ENG (General Secretariat) |url=https://78884ca60822a34fb0e6-082b8fd5551e97bc65e327988b444396.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/up/2021/12/Decision_case_2021-8_NOURINE_F-1638373159.pdf |website=International Judo Federation |access-date=9 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128081242/https://78884ca60822a34fb0e6-082b8fd5551e97bc65e327988b444396.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/up/2021/12/Decision_case_2021-8_NOURINE_F-1638373159.pdf |archive-date=28 November 2023 |date=6 September 2021}}

Biography

After a judoka he coached, Fethi Nourine, was selected to compete at the 2020 Summer Games in the {{nbnd}}73 kg weight class, Nourine and Benikhlef each announced Nourine's withdrawal following the conclusion of the draw of competitors. They said the withdrawal was because they were supporting the Palestinian cause by not competing against Israeli Tohar Butbul, whom Nourine was drawn to potentially face in the second round, had he won in the first round.{{Cite web|url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/olympics-2021-fethi-nourine-sent-home-over-israeli-stance-032636189.html|title=Judo athlete sent home from Olympics after refusing to fight Israeli}}{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/07/24/tokyo-olympics-fethi-nourine-sent-home-for-refusing-to-face-israeli-opponent-14982540/|title=Algerian judoka sent home from Olympics after refusing to face Israeli opponent|work=Metro |date=July 24, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/24/algerian-judoka-sent-home-from-olympics-after-refusing-to-compete-against-israeli|title=Algerian judoka sent home from Olympics after refusing to compete against Israeli|date=July 24, 2021|website=The Guardian}}{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/algerian-judoka-fethi-nourine-suspended-olympics-tokyo-israeli-opponent-040652086.html|title=Algerian judoka suspended after quitting Olympics rather than facing Israeli opponent|website=Yahoo}} The IJF announced his and Nourine's immediate suspensions on 24 July 2021, pending a further investigation, and sent the two of them back home to Algeria from Tokyo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/07/24/olympics/summer-olympics/olympic-judo/algeria-athlete-judo-withdrawal-israel/|title=Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine suspended and sent home for withdrawing to avoid Israeli|date=July 24, 2021|website=The Japan Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ijf.org/news/show/fethi-nourine-and-amar-benikhlef-disciplinary-sanctions|title=Fethi Nourine and Amar Benikhlef: Disciplinary Sanctions|website= International Judo Federation }} The Federation explained: {{blockquote|"According to the IJF rules, in line with the Olympic Charter and especially with rule 50.2 that provides for the protection of the neutrality of sport at the Olympic Games and the neutrality of the Games themselves, which states that 'no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas,' Fethi Nourine and Amar Benikhlef are now suspended and will face a decision by the IJF Disciplinary Commission, as well as disciplinary sanctions by the National Olympic Committee of Algeria back in their country.'"}} It continued: "Judo sport is based on a strong moral code, including respect and friendship, to foster solidarity and we will not tolerate any discrimination, as it goes against the core values and principles of our sport." The Federation Disciplinary Commission will handle final sanctioning beyond the Olympics. In September 2021, Benikhlef was suspended for 10 years, until July 2031.