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Olympic Judoka Suffers Broken Jaw in Violent Altercation
6 Sep
Summary
- German Olympic judoka sustained a broken jaw and lost teeth.
- The assault occurred after a Bundesliga fight by an opponent.
- The aggressive opponent could receive a life ban from the sport.
German Olympic judoka Timo Cavelius was hospitalized after sustaining a broken jaw and losing two teeth in an assault that occurred Saturday. The incident took place after a Bundesliga team event, where Cavelius, competing for Abensburg, was attacked by Akaki Japaridze, a fighter from JC Leipzig.
Japaridze reportedly struck Cavelius multiple times with his fist following a provocative celebratory gesture by the latter. Cavelius underwent surgery for his injuries, which include a fractured jaw and lost teeth. Japaridze left for his hotel shortly after the altercation and was expected to return to Georgia.
JC Leipzig issued an apology on Instagram, condemning violence in sports and emphasizing judo's values of respect and fairness. The club may face sanctions, while Japaridze faces a potential lifetime ban from the International Judo Federation (IJF). Cavelius, who participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics, is now unable to compete for ranking points while recovering.
