Khaberni - Israel withdrew its four-man bobsled team before the last two rounds of the competitions at the 2026 Olympics on Sunday, following reports that the team attempted to replace one of its members by claiming illness.
The "Times of Israel" reported that the Israeli Olympic Committee informed them that it had "excluded the team from the competition after one of the athletes lied to the Olympic officials to allow his colleague, Ward Fuwaris, to participate instead of him."
According to competition rules, a team member can only be replaced if there is illness or injury.
The Israeli Olympic Committee stated that Uri Zeev underwent a medical examination and also signed an official statement to allow the substitute Ward Fuwaris to participate in his place.
Reports indicate that the Israeli Olympic Committee said that Zeev later confessed to the head of the delegation that he had acted improperly, which forced the Olympic Committee to withdraw the request and cancel the substitution.
The Israeli Olympic Committee remarked that the team's behavior was "inappropriate" and "contradicts the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship."
The captain of the Israeli bobsled team "Bobsleigh," AJ Edelman, confirmed the team's withdrawal on his Instagram account after the team ranked twenty-fourth the previous Saturday, without providing full details.
