Israeli Triathlon Association considers legal action over Derry race

Triathlon officials in Israel have said they are considering legal action over the withdrawal of four athletes from an event due to take place in Londonderry on Saturday.

World Triathlon confirmed on Thursday that it had been asked by the Israeli Triathlon Association (ITA) to “remove all the Israeli athletes entered” from the event and had done so “with immediate effect”.

The North West Triathlon Club (NWTC), which is organising the event, had raised possible safety concerns about the participation of the athletes.

On Friday, the ITA said it is “deeply disturbed by the circumstances” that led to the athletes not taking part.

“We will not allow this matter to end with the withdrawal of our athletes,” the association said.

“The Israeli Triathlon Association intends to pursue all available avenues, including examining possible legal action, to ensure that such a situation is not repeated.”

On Thursday, the NWTC said they could not support the Israeli athletes taking part.

The club added that it had concerns about “athlete and public safety” and “the potential for serious disruption” had they competed on Saturday.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) told BBC News NI it had “become aware of potential protest activity in relation to the event”.

The Israeli association said it had “extremely serious concerns about discriminatory treatment and antisemitism” over the NWTC’s stance.

“The public statement issued by NWTC, which openly states that the club objected to the participation of athletes representing Israel and welcomed the fact that no Israeli athletes would compete, raises extremely serious concerns about discriminatory treatment and antisemitism.

“Israeli athletes should never be placed in a position where their participation becomes unacceptable simply because of the country they represent,” the ITA said, adding its athletes had travelled to Northern Ireland expecting to take part.

It called on Europe Triathlon to “respond firmly”, adding it expects the body to examine the event’s ranking status and “whether those responsible for its organisation should be permitted to host international competitions in the future”.

“Sport must remain a place where athletes meet on the start line and compete under the same rules,” the association said.

It added: “Once an organiser cannot or will not protect that principle, the very purpose and integrity of international sport are at stake.”

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle’s Mark Patterson Show on Friday, Ian Cullen from the NWTC said it the participation of the Israeli athletes in the race would be unsafe for them and potentially all those taking part.

He added that the decision involved the police, Triathlon Ireland, Europe Triathlon and the Israeli federation, and went “well above our local organising level”.