A fat flag-bearer? Iran must be snickering behind its hands.

The International Judo Federation has cleared Iranian judoka Arash Miresmaeili of boycotting an Olympic judo match against Israel's Yudi Vaks for political reasons. It found that Mr. Miresmaeili, who was disqualified for being overweight, did not intend to avoid the match. But the federation appears to have ducked the issue of whether Iran obliged him to miss it.

At least three other Iranian judokas avoided their matches against Israelis in 2001. Iranian President Mohammed Khatami praised Mr. Miresmaeili this week as a champion and national hero. It defies belief that the man who carried Iran's flag at the opening ceremonies, describing that as the greatest day of his life, could somehow wind up five kilograms over the 66-kilogram limit for his weight class.

The Games will survive this assault, but let it be remembered that when the Olympic ideal was mocked, the judo federation took the easy way out. And at no time did the International Olympic Committee utter a peep in protest.