Several officials and media outlets in Iran have claimed that the Iranian Judo champion Saeid Mollaei’s decision not to return to Iran was, in fact, a conspiracy against the Islamic Republic orchestrated by the president of the International Judo Federation.

On Friday, Marius Vizer, the president of International Judo Federation announced that Saeid Mollaei, Iranian Judo world champion has asked for help from this federation in order to seek asylum. Vizer said: “Mollaei was pressured to avoid facing the Israeli opponent and was forced to lose the semifinal match. Mollaei’s family were also pressured in Iran so he wouldn’t face the Israeli opponent.”

On Friday afternoon, the Ammar Cyber Headquarters, a subsidiary of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) accused the International Judo Federation of “conspiracy against the Islamic Republic” and claimed “Vizer told Mollaei to claim that Iran has ordered him to lose, and he would get asylum in any country that he wants.”

Ammar Headquarter declared that “Vizer’s goal is to suspend Iran’ judo and hurt our sport in order to please Israel.”

The headquarter also denied Mollaei’s asylum and claimed that he has rejected Vizer’s offer.

But after Mollaei’s decision became official, Mashregh News, another IRGC website claimed that that Mollaei was planning this for a long time.

However, Mashregh News also accused the president of International Judo Federation of conspiracy against the Islamic Republic and claimed: “Data and reports show a strong connection between Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, and Vizer. Therefore, this was clearly a joint conspiracy by the International Federation and Israel.”

Fars News, another agency close to IRGC also claimed that the plan was made a long time ago and Mollaei was being constantly contacted by some in Iran.”