An Iranian former judo world champion says he is afraid to return home after defying his government's orders to withdraw from the world championships.

Saeid Mollaei was pressured to pull out of the competition to avoid a potential bout against Israeli opponent Sagi Muki, according to the International Judo Federation (IJF).

He is now refusing to return to Iran over fears for his safety, saying in an IJF statement: "I need help. Even if the authorities of my country told me that I can go back without any problems, I am afraid.

"I am afraid of what might happen to my family and to myself."

For several decades, Iran's sports teams have been barred from competing against Israeli athletes.


The IJF said Mr Mollaei had been repeatedly told by Iran's National Olympic Committee and the government to withdraw from fights and security services had been sent to his home.

Mr Mollaei was the defending champion and could have faced Mr Muki in the final, but was knocked out in the semi-final before he had a chance to compete against the Israeli athlete.

The Iranian athlete was initially ordered to withdraw just minutes before a quarter-final bout.

"A few minutes prior to the (quarter-final) contest, the Iranian coach received a call from his country," the IJF said on its website.

"On the other side of the line, the Iranian first deputy minister of sport, Davar Zani, gave him the order to withdraw Mollaei from the competition to avoid a potential contest between Iran and Israel."

Image: Mr Mollaei was defeated in the semi-finals of the competition

He was also contacted and told to pull out ahead of a semi-final match.

The IJF said Mr Mollaei is currently "under risk" and added it is "looking forward to finding the best solution to allow a champion to continue to do what he does best: to compete no matter what and without any kind of discrimination".

The International Olympic Committee has also said it was looking into the matter.

Iran has refused to recognise Israel since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

There have been previous instances of athletes refusing to compete with Israeli opponents or being ordered to pull out.

Iranian judo athlete and former world champion Arash Mirasmaeili refused to fight Israeli Ehud Vaks at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

At Rio de Janeiro's 2016 Olympic Games, an Egyptian called Islam El Shehaby refused to shake the hand of Israeli Or Sasson following their bout.