Blind Judoka Expelled from Para-Asian Games: 'I Became a Victim of Dirty Games' by Officials

Vahid Jodi, a judoka expelled from the Para-Asian Games, reacted to news of his disqualification for cheating and being placed on the blind and visually impaired team despite having no vision problems. He wrote on his Instagram: 'I have become a victim of a dirty game.' Without providing details about his expulsion, he added: 'I pity the managers who know what happened behind the scenes but pretend otherwise.' Jodi called on media outlets that he claims 'are seeking the truth' to come and hear his 'side of the story.' He emphasized that 'I, Vahid Jodi, judoka of the national team of Iran, have become a victim of a dirty game.' Several Iranian media outlets reported on Thursday, October 26, about the 'scandal' of Iranian sports at the Para-Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, stating that Jodi was expelled after it became clear that he is sighted. The Tabnak website reported that Vahid Jodi, representing the 73 kg weight category of the Iranian national judo team, had competed in three events in 2022 under the supervision of the Judo Federation for able-bodied athletes, but was identified and expelled from the competitions by referees and observers at the Para-Asian Games in Hangzhou. Meanwhile, contrary to published reports, Saeed Salgi, Deputy for Elite Sports of the Iranian National Paralympic Committee, claimed that positive doping tests for two Iranian judokas, including Vahid Jodi, led to their removal from the Para-Asian Games. He stated that doping tests were conducted on the national team members during the preparation camps before their departure, and the results were announced while the athletes were en route to China. The IRNA news agency reacted to the incident by stating: 'Vahid Jodi, who had recently been part of the national judo team and suddenly appeared in the blind and visually impaired team, was not assigned a class at the Para-Asian Games in Hangzhou and could not participate in the competitions.'