International Judo Federation

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.{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.ijf.org/history |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218081522/https://www.ijf.org/history |archive-date=2025-02-18 |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=www.ijf.org}} 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.{{cite web |title=Timeline |url=https://www.ijf.org/history/timeline |website=International Judo Federation |access-date=29 September 2021}}

In March 2009 it replaced the Pan American Judo Union with the Pan American Judo Confederation.{{Cite web |date=2009-05-03 |title=Pan American Judo Confederation Recognized by the International Judo Federation {{!}} News {{!}} USA Judo |url=http://judo.teamusa.org/news/article/10796 |access-date=2024-07-07 |archive-date=2009-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503114812/http://judo.teamusa.org/news/article/10796 |url-status=bot: unknown }}

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.{{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}} Nourine said his political support for the Palestinians in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict made it impossible for him to compete against Israeli athletes.{{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=24 July 2021|website=The Guardian}}

The IJF initially named Russian President Vladimir Putin its honorary president and IJF Ambassador in 2008.{{cite news |title=International Judo Federation Suspends Putin as Honorary President |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-judo-federation-suspends-putin-as-honorary-president |access-date=February 27, 2022 |work=RFI |date=February 27, 2022}} However, that status was suspended{{cite web |title=Official Announcement of the International Judo Federation |url=https://www.ijf.org/news/show/official-announcement-of-the-international-judo-federation |access-date=February 27, 2022 |website=International Judo Federation}} and then stripped{{Cite web |date=2022-03-07 |title=International Judo Federation strips titles from Vladimir Putin and Russian oligarch - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/international-judo-federation-strips-titles-vladimir-putin-russia-ukraine-invasion/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} in 2022, in reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The IJF also cancelled all competitions in Russia, but allowed their athletes to compete as neutrals in individual and team competitions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/aroundtherings/articles/2022/03/16/citing-safety-concerns-russia-withdraws-all-judo-athletes-from-international-competition/|title=Citing safety concerns, Russia withdraws all judo athletes from international competition|website=infobae|date=16 March 2022 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.playthegame.org/news/comments/2022/1027_most-olympic-federations-suspend-russian-athletes-but-officials-go-free/|title=Most Olympic federations suspend Russian athletes, but officials go free|website=playthegame.org}}

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.{{cite web | url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2022/06/25/ukraine-russia-judo-boycott/amp/ | title=Ukraine boycotts Olympic judo qualifier as Russians compete | date=25 June 2022 }}

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.{{cite news |title=Resolution Regarding the Participation of Russian and Belarusian Athletes in IJF Events |url=https://www.ijf.org/news/show/resolution-regarding-the-participation-of-russian-and-belarusian-athletes-in-ijf-events |access-date=2 May 2023 |work=International Judo Federation |date=29 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429170446/https://www.ijf.org/news/show/resolution-regarding-the-participation-of-russian-and-belarusian-athletes-in-ijf-events |archive-date=29 April 2023}}{{cite news |title=Ukraine set to boycott judo worlds after Russians allowed |url=https://apnews.com/article/judo-russia-ukraine-olympics-boycott-aebf3b7fcfb95ea4644a212187b2dfe7 |access-date=2 May 2023 |work=Associated Press |date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502024138/https://apnews.com/article/judo-russia-ukraine-olympics-boycott-aebf3b7fcfb95ea4644a212187b2dfe7 |archive-date=2 May 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Aharoni |first1=Oren |title=Drama in judo: The international federation decided to bring Russian and Belarussian athletes back to competition |url=https://www.israelhayom.co.il/sport/other-sports/article/13984648 |access-date=2 May 2023 |work=Israel Hayom |date=29 April 2023 |language=he}} Following the announcement, twenty Russian and Belarusian athletes were registered and entered into the championships.{{cite news |last1=Aharoni |first1=Oren |title=Ukraine will boycott the World Judo Championships: "The Rubles have won" |url=https://www.israelhayom.co.il/sport/other-sports/article/13988026 |access-date=2 May 2023 |work=Israel Hayom |date=30 April 2023 |language=he}}{{cite web |title=World Judo Championships — Doha 2023 — Individuals — Nations — Individual Neutral Athletes |url=https://www.ijf.org/competition/2442/judoka_nations?nation=ain |website=International Judo Federation |access-date=2 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429210753/https://www.ijf.org/competition/2442/judoka_nations?nation=ain |archive-date=29 April 2023}} Of the twenty, at least five were reported to have ties with the Russian Armed Forces,{{cite news |last1=Berkeley |first1=Geoff |title=Ukraine boycott World Judo Championships after decision to readmit Russians |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1136513/ukraine-to-boycott-world-judo-champs |access-date=2 May 2023 |work=Inside the Games |date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502082616/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1136513/ukraine-to-boycott-world-judo-champs |archive-date=2 May 2023}} despite the IOC's suggestion to deny participation of athletes who are contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies.{{cite news |title=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 |url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-issues-recommendations-for-international-federations-and-international-sports-event-organisers |access-date=2 May 2023 |work=International Olympic Committee |date=28 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328210025/https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-issues-recommendations-for-international-federations-and-international-sports-event-organisers |archive-date=28 March 2023}} In protest, the Ukrainian team withdrew from the championships.

• 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
• IJF World Tour (Masters, Grand Slam, Grand Prix, Continental Open)

• 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{{cite web|url=http://www.intjudo.eu/Organization|title=International Judo Federation Executive Committee|publisher=International Judo Federation|access-date=16 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714114758/http://www.intjudo.eu/Organization|archive-date=14 July 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website}}

{{National members of the International Judo Federation}}

{{International judo}}

{{IJF World Tour}}

{{International Sports Federations}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Sports organizations established in 1951

Category:Organisations based in Budapest

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