Leipzig, Sept 7. (dpa/GNA) – German Olympic judoka, Timo Cavelius, was hospitalized with a reported broken jaw and lost two teeth, after being assaulted after a Bundesliga fight by an opponent who could face a life ban for it.
Cavelius, who competes for serial champions Abensburg, was attacked by JC Leipzig fighter Akaki Japaridze of Georgia, after winning their second fight in a team event on Saturday.
Japaridze hit Cavelius three times with his fist, after Cavelius had made a provocative celebratory gesture.
The Leipziger Volkszeitung (LVZ) said that Cavelius lost two teeth and broke his jaw, with surgery already having taken place.
Japaridze left for his hotel after the incident. The guest fighter for the Leipzig club was set to return to his home country.
Leipzig apologized for the incident on Instagram, saying: “Violence has no place in our sport. As judoka, we stand for respect, tolerance, fairness and mutual respect.”
The club faces sanctions such as a fine while Japaridze, who has been part of the team since the start of the season, could be banned for life by the world governing body IJF. “He had behaved completely calmly and inconspicuously up to now. Of course, we are shocked now,” Leipzig captain Hannes Conrad told the LVZ.
Cavelius took part in the 2024 Olympics in Paris and is now preparing for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. But he cannot garner important ranking points as long he is sidelined after the incident.
GNA