Israel withdrew from the bobsled competitions at the 2026 Olympics with two rounds remaining on Sunday, after reports emerged that the team attempted to replace one of its members under the pretext of illness.
The Times of Israel newspaper reported that the Israeli Olympic Committee announced the exclusion of the team. “It was eliminated from the competition after one of the athletes lied to Olympic officials to allow his colleague, Ward Fawareseh, to participate in his place.”
Competition rules stipulate that a team member can only be replaced in cases of actual injury or illness.
The Israeli Olympic Committee explained that Uri Zisman underwent a medical examination and signed an official declaration so that the substitute, Ward Fawareseh, could participate in his place.
According to reports, Zisman later admitted to the head of the delegation that he had acted improperly, forcing the Israel Olympic Committee to withdraw the application and cancel the substitution.
The Israel Olympic Committee described the team’s behavior as “inappropriate” and “contrary to the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship.”
The leader of the Israeli Bobsleigh team, AJ Edelman, confirmed the team’s withdrawal via his Instagram account after they achieved twenty-fourth place on Saturday, without providing full details. (Russia Today)
