An Olympic surfing judge was dismissed from the Olympic Games following the circulation of a photo online showing him with a competitor in Tahiti this week.
Australian judge Benjamin Lowe, along with Australian surfing team member Ethan Ewing and coach Bede Durbidge, took a group photo during a rest day of the competition, causing some concern.
The International Surfing Association announced on Thursday that Lowe has been removed from the judging panel for the remainder of the event to “protect the integrity and fairness of the ongoing competition.”
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The Olympic surfing venue entrance prior to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 July 24, 2024, in Teahupo’o, French Polynesia. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
“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 stated. “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, they added.
The surfing federation mentioned that it had “communicated with all judges and teams to remind them of their responsibilities regarding appropriate behavior.”
A buoy inside the field of play during round three of surfing on day three of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 July 29, 2024, in Teahupo’o, French Polynesia. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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“I’ve kinda been copping some hate online, but I really don’t know the full story or have any insight on it,” Ewing shared with Stab Mag following Lowe’s removal.
“It’s definitely unfortunate.”
Ewing was eliminated in his quarterfinal match against fellow Australian Jack Robinson with scores of 15.33 to 13.00.
The athlete village during day two of training for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 July 22, 2024, in Teahupo’o, French Polynesia. (Ed Sloane/Getty Images)
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The surfing events are being held in Tahiti, an island in French Polynesia located nearly 3,000 miles east of Australia and almost 10,000 miles from Paris.
This isn’t the only controversy at the Games. A boxer who was previously barred from last year’s world championships for failing a gender test has been dominating the women’s 66-kilogram division.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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