Khaberni - European judo champion, Frenchwoman Leah Fontaine, has been disqualified from the "Grand Slam" series in Abu Dhabi after biting her Italian rival Erica Simonetti during a bout in the over 78 kg category.
The incident occurred minutes after the start of the match, as both athletes received an early warning due to their passive performance.
Subsequently, Fontaine attempted a hip throw but fell on her stomach, prompting Simonetti to attempt to transition to ground position (par terre).
After the referee intervened, the Italian athlete got up to seek medical treatment, displaying a clear injury to her left hand.
After a brief timeout, the referee declared, confirming that the injury resulted from the French athlete biting her competitor.
On their part, the French delegation explained to the newspaper "L'Équipe" that Fontaine's teeth contacting Simonetti’s hand might have occurred due to pressure on the face during the ground skirmish, and was not intentional.
Despite the incident, Simonetti continued competing in the tournament and succeeded in winning the bronze medal.
Fontaine is 24 years old and has an impressive record including two silver medals in the mixed team world championships (2021 and 2024), two European champion titles in the same category (2022 and 2024), three Grand Slam golds, and a world title in the young women's category in 2021.
The Abu Dhabi tournament, which ended yesterday, Sunday, marked the first official appearance of Russian athletes under the Russian flag and anthem since regaining their rights to participate with national symbols.
Russia finished the tournament at the top of the medal table with two golds and four silvers.
The Executive Committee of the International Judo Federation voted on November 27 last year in favor of the return of Russian athletes to international competitions under their national flag.
