Even before coming to Israel, Mollaei will possibly face Israeli judoka Sagi Muki at the Qingdao Masters in China next week.
"I am friends with Sagi Muki, as I am with all other athletes. He supports me and I thank him for this. It doesn’t matter who wins, what matters is friendship," Mollaei said in an interview to DW.
Tehran consistently pressures its representatives in all international competitions to avoid facing Israeli opponents.
While Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei is still seeking asylum in Germany, his testimony against his country was the trigger to the International Judo Federation's decision to ban the country.
According to Radio Farda, Shahnavazi stated that the Islamic Republic Weightlifting Federation never provided him with financial support to participate in international competitions.
"I am a fighter. I want to compete wherever I can. I live in a country whose law does not permit me to. We have no choice, all athletes must comply with it," Mollaei said in an IJF statement.
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