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Douillet slams Japanese "stranglehold" on world refereeing
PARIS, Sept 27 (AFP) - David Douillet, who retained his Olympic judo heavyweight title at the Sydney Games, on Wednesday slammed what he called the Japanese stranglehold on world refereeing. The Frenchman forged a points victory over Japanese opponent Shinichi Shinohara in Sydney last Friday in a tense battle of rival giants, sparking off fierce Japanese protests at what they considered poor refereeing. But Douillet saw things differently and believes the sport's mother country has an unfair influence in officiating international contests. "You have to take seriously the Japanese stranglehold on world refereeing because it's beginning to really take hold," said Douillet. The Sydney final was indeed a controversial one. In an exchange of throw attempts, the reigning and former double world champions fell to the mat together one and a half minutes into the showpiece five-minute over-100kg final. Japanese head coach and legendary heavyweight Yasuhiro Yamashita had initially thought New Zealand referee Craig Monaghan gave an effective point to the Japanese. But the signboard gave the point to 31-year-old Douillet who was closing his career studded with the 1995 world heavyweight and open-category golds and two Olympic titles. Video replays showed that the referee and one of the two judges gave an effective point for the Frenchman. But the other judge signalled that it was a perfect knockout "ippon" win for the Japanese with a difficult technique known as uchimata sukashi, or a counter to an inner-thigh throw. Douillet said that he regretted the controversy, which he claimed was whipped up by Yamashita, but which he said was quickly forgotten. "Yamashita regretted losing his supremacy. His reaction was a pity because I admire him a lot. He tried to distort a result like mine which was never in doubt," added Douillet whose standing is so high in his homeland that he carried France's flag at the Opening Ceremony. The match ended with a mix-up of points in favour of Douillet. But after the two fighters left the contest area, the decision stood as it was, according to international rules. Once judokas leave the mat a contest - and any protest - is considered to be over.
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