Lifelong ban for Akaki Japaridze after beating scandal in the Judo Bundesliga

First decision after the beating scandal: Akaki Japaridze has been banned for life by the executive branch of the Judo Bundesliga after his beating attack. The 24-year-old Georgian will therefore never be allowed to register for or fight for a club in the top division of the German Judo Federation (DJB).

League representative Pamela Bickendorf said in a statement that she was satisfied with the outcome of the process. There are also ongoing proceedings against Japaridze before the Georgian Judo Association, the World Judo Association IJF and criminal proceedings in Germany.

Japaridze, as a guest fighter from JC Leipzig, beat his opponent Timo Cavelius (29) from TSV Abensberg until he was hospitalized. Japaridze even broke his opponent's jaw during the wild attack. The German Olympic starter Cavelius will miss the World Cup in Baku due to his injury.

“Incompatible with the basic principles of our sport”

The Georgian then reported via Instagram and said that he was not shirking responsibility for what happened. But he also wrote that he wanted to make it clear that this incident was “not the result of emotions” triggered by the sporting defeat. Japaridze then wrote about the opponent's defamatory behavior.

“We cannot tolerate or even defend this serious physical injury and it is incompatible with the basic principles of our sport,” the DJB commented on Japaridze’s description.

"During the process, all sides repeatedly emphasized that we had never had anything like this before. I find that reassuring and makes me proud because it represents our sport and our values," explained the league representative after the decision, which also included further measures. The first fight against Cavelius, won by Japaridze, is also considered lost for Japaridze. The team fight between Leipzig and Abensberg is ultimately scored 7:7 (62:57).