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French hit back at Japan in heavyweight judo dispute
SYDNEY, Sept 23 (AFP) - French judo officials on Saturday dismissed Japanese claims that a judging error cost heavyweight Shinichi Shinohara an Olympic gold medal. Fabien Canu, technical director of the French Judo Federation, said Japanese complaints over judging in the bout between David Douillet and Shinohara were sour grapes. He said the reaction of Japan head coach and legendary heavyweight Yasuhiro Yamashita was unacceptable. "I find Yamashita's behaviour unacceptable. It's the reaction of someone who lost," said Canu, the 1987 and 1989 world middleweight champion. "Judo does not belong to the Japanese." Douillet and Shinohara's Friday bout saw saw the two former and reigning double world champions try to settle an old score before their retirement from the Japanese-born sport. In an exchange of throw attempts, the 31-year-old Douillet and the 27-year-old Shinohara fell to the mat together one and a half minutes into the five-minute final. New Zealand referee Craig Monaghan and one of the two judges gave a point to the Frenchman for an uchimata, or inner-thigh throw. But the other judge called it Shinohara's knockout win by an uchimata sukashi, or a counter throw against an uchimata, a highly skilled technique which would immediately stop matches in Japan. Shinohara punched the air and the Japanese bench and press box roared with joy. But the fight went on with the point given to Douillet. The match ended with a mix-up of points and penalties which helped Douillet retain the Olympic title. And, after the fighters and judges left the contest area, the result stood as it was in accordance with international rules. But Yamashita erupted in anger, demanding the International Judo Federation (IJF) to screen the video before the spectators and show who scored on the crucial throw. Japan's judo authority was filing a protest with the IJF. "If we are proven right, the IJF will write a letter of apology to us and penalise the referee," Yamashita said. Canu pointed out, "No appeal had been laid Friday evening at the end of the final but I know Yamashita went to the judges table to protest." "Official appeals do not exist in our sport. Once the referees have left the tatami the decision can not be appealed," the French said. In Japan, the Japanese media also attacked what they called a mistaken referring decision in the fight. "Shinohara's Gold Stolen," assertd the Tokyo-Chunichi Sports daily. "Worst mis-judgement of the century." The Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) said it received some 170 calls from viewers late Friday, complaining about the decision.
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