An Olympic surfing judge was removed from the Olympic Games after a photo circulated online of him alongside a competitor in Tahiti this week. Australian judge Benjamin Lowe, Australian surfing team member Ethan Ewing, and coach Bede Durbidge took a group photo during an off day for the competition that raised eyebrows. The International Surfing Association released a statement Thursday saying it removed Lowe from the judging panel for the remainder of the competition to “protect the integrity and fairness of the ongoing competition.”
“The ISA is aware of a photo circulating on social media in which one of the Olympic surfing judges from Australia is seen socially interacting with an Australian athlete and the team manager,” the ISA said. “It is inappropriate for a judge to be interacting in this manner with an athlete and their team.” The decision was made in accordance with the ISA’s code of conduct and the International Olympic Committee’s code of ethics, it said.
The surfing federation said it had “communicated with all judges and teams to remind them of their responsibilities regarding appropriate behavior.”
“I’ve kinda been copping some hate on it online, but I really don’t know the story or have any insight on it,” Ewing told Stab Mag after Lowe’s departure. “It’s sad for sure.”
Ewing lost his quarterfinal match to fellow Australian Jack Robinson, 15.33 to 13.00. The surfing competitions are taking place in Tahiti, a French Polynesian island that’s nearly 3,000 miles east of Australia and nearly 10,000 miles away from Paris.
This incident is just one of the many controversies surrounding the Olympic Games. A boxer who previously was barred from last year’s world championships for failing a gender test has dominated the women’s 66-kilogram division. The Olympic Games are always full of surprises and controversies, making the competition even more intense and intriguing for both athletes and spectators alike.
It’s important for all officials, judges, athletes, and coaches to adhere to the rules and regulations set forth by the governing bodies of the Olympics to ensure fair play and maintain the integrity of the competitions. Hopefully, incidents like these serve as a reminder to everyone involved in the Games to act professionally and responsibly at all times.
As the Games continue, it will be interesting to see how other athletes perform and if any more controversies arise. Stay tuned for more updates and exciting moments from the Olympic Games in Tahiti.