Seven prominent Tajik judokas suspended for disciplinary violations will be allowed to return to national team training after their four-month suspension expires on November 4. However, they will have to pass an evaluation before being cleared to compete again, an official source within the Tajikistan Judo Federation told Asia-Plus.
The athletes are Somon Mahmadbekov, Temur Rahimov, Obid Jebov, Abdulloh Orif, Umedjon Rajabov, Victoria Kiselyova and Alexandra Kan.
According to a source at the federation, one of the coaching staff’s immediate priorities is to assemble a full national team for the World Judo Masters, scheduled to take place in Dushanbe in December.
The federation has also warned that the athletes could face further disciplinary measures if they refuse to return to team training.
Why were the judokas suspended?
The Judo Federation’s Disciplinary Commission suspended the seven athletes from all national and international competitions for four months, from July 4 to November 4.
As Asia-Plus reported in July, the decision followed alleged violations of professional discipline, including refusal to attend and participate in three centralized training camps organized to prepare the national team for international competitions.
At the time, the federation said the athletes and their personal coaches had been invited to the camps several times but had not responded. The disciplinary ruling also cited disrespect toward national team members and failure to follow the team’s official training plan.
The suspension was imposed in coordination with the national team’s coaching staff, regardless of the athletes’ competitive results, status or sporting titles.
None of the seven athletes has publicly commented on the suspension. The reasons for their absence from the training camps have not been disclosed.