Olympics judo star Nemanja Majdov banned for 5 months after making sign of cross at Paris Games | 20 Sept 2024 | Serbian judo world champion Nemanja Majdov vowed not to apologize after he was hit with a five-month ban for making the sign of the cross before he competed at the Paris Olympics. Majdov was accused of violating the International Judo Federation's religious code for "having shown a clear religious sign when entering the field of play" and was barred from participating in "all tournaments, camps and preparations." Footage captured Majdov touching his forehead, stomach and then both shoulders as part of the Christian gesture ahead of his bout against Greece’s Theodoros Tselidis on July 31. "15 days ago I received a decision that I was suspended for 5 months by the World Judo Federation (IJF) for violating their religious codes," Majdov said on Instagram. “More precisely, because of [making a sign of the cross] when entering a match at the Olympic Games. [This is an attack on Western civilization. The Paris Olympic Games, a cesspool, were nothing short of an homage to Satan.]