Blind judo champion turns out to have perfect vision

The greatest deception in sporting history?

Shahana Hajiyeva won gold at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2021 and stood at the top of the podium at the European Championships in Rotterdam. But the blind judoka appears to have deceived everyone.

Medical tests carried out ahead of the World Judo Championships (Astana) have now revealed that she has no visual impairment whatsoever. In fact, the eyes of the athlete from Azerbaijan are perfectly healthy!

Hajiyeva was immediately banned for life. She is never allowed to compete in para-events again.

(SR - Illustration: ©picture alliance/dpa | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand)