Four Israeli triathletes were withdrawn from a Europe Triathlon Cup event in Londonderry on Thursday after local organisers raised safety concerns, despite assurances from police that competition could proceed, according to the Israeli national team coach.
Lior Cohen, high performance director and national coach for the Israeli Triathlon Association, described the withdrawal as a "total surprise" after two weeks of discussions with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in which officers indicated there were no obstacles to participation.
The incident has sparked a legal threat from the Israeli federation, which alleges discriminatory treatment and antisemitism, and reflects broader tensions over Israeli participation in sporting events since the Gaza conflict began in October 2023.
What assurances did police provide?
Cohen told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme that he had maintained regular contact with the PSNI for the fortnight preceding the race. Throughout those discussions, he said, police indicated that
everything is as scheduledand that
we can compete under our official uniform on Saturday and we can continue our training as planned.
He emphasised that
there had been no issue until early morning Thursdaywhen local race organisers sent a WhatsApp message flagging what they described as "red flags" regarding athlete safety.
However, on Monday following the withdrawal, a PSNI spokeswoman stated that the force had not provided any security advice around the event and was not involved in organising it. The PSNI later told NI it had
become aware of potential protest activity in relation to the eventon Thursday morning.
How did the withdrawal unfold?
Cohen said he was shocked by the sudden reversal.
I must tell you that I was totally in shock and really, really surprised,he said, adding that in 14 years of international competition,
this is the very first time that we met this kind of issue.
According to World Triathlon's statement, the Israeli athletes were removed from the event "with immediate effect" after the Israeli National Federation requested their withdrawal. Triathlon Ireland confirmed the final start list for the race did not include any athletes representing Israel.
The four Israeli triathletes had been listed on the provisional entry list for the men's elite race scheduled for Saturday. Cohen said the team departed Londonderry within an hour of the Israeli federation's decision to withdraw them.
Ian Cullen from the North West Triathlon Club (NWTC) told BBC Radio Foyle's Mark Patterson Show on Friday that allowing the Israeli athletes to participate would have been unsafe for them and potentially for all competitors. He stated that the decision involved the police, Triathlon Ireland, Europe Triathlon and the Israeli federation, and went
well above our local organising level.
What are the allegations of discrimination?
The Israeli Triathlon Association has raised serious concerns about the withdrawal, stating it had
extremely serious concerns about discriminatory treatment and antisemitismregarding the NWTC's stance.
Cohen framed the issue in terms of athlete rights, saying
We are athletes, we came to compete, we came to give a performance and not be eliminated because of ethnicity or nationality.
The North West Triathlon Club countered that its decision was not about anyone's religion or ethnicity, but rather about Israel's representation in international sport while Palestinians continue to suffer, according to the club's public statement.
What legal action is being considered?
The Israeli Triathlon Association is considering legal action over the withdrawal of its athletes. This represents a formal challenge to the decision and suggests the dispute may move beyond public statements into the legal arena.
How does this fit into broader Israeli-Palestinian tensions in sport?
This incident is not isolated. Since Israel began its military operations in Gaza following the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages, several sporting events involving Israeli participation have faced controversy.
In football, the Republic of Ireland is scheduled to play Israel in UEFA's Nations League later this month. However, in May an open letter from Irish Sport For Palestine, signed by 39 people including former Ireland manager Brian Kerr and musicians Paul Weller and Bobby Gillespie, called on Ireland's football authorities to boycott the matches. The Football Association of Ireland has stated it will fulfil the fixtures.
Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest also generated controversy, with Ireland earlier this year boycotting the contest over the European Broadcasting Union's decision to allow Israeli entry.
According to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN, more than 73,460 people have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began.
What happens next?
The race itself proceeded on Saturday after the final start list was confirmed without Israeli athletes. The Israeli Triathlon Association's consideration of legal action suggests the next phase of this dispute will likely involve formal legal or regulatory challenges to the withdrawal decision, potentially setting precedent for how international sports bodies handle similar situations in future.
Key Facts:
- Four Israeli triathletes were withdrawn from the Europe Triathlon Cup in Londonderry on Thursday after local organisers raised safety concerns
- The Israeli national coach said police had assured the team it was safe to compete until the morning of the withdrawal
- The Israeli Triathlon Association is considering legal action, alleging discriminatory treatment and antisemitism
- The dispute reflects broader tensions over Israeli participation in sporting events since the Gaza conflict began in October 2023
- The race proceeded on Saturday without Israeli competitors after the final start list was confirmed
