Japan's Ruiko Sato en route to gold in the women's under-78kg class at the IJF Grand Slam in Düsseldorf ©IJF

Japan took their overall total of titles at the International Judo Federation’s first Düsseldorf Grand Slam to seven on a day when Russia and Georgia added their names to the list of nations striking gold at the ISS Dome.

But there was embarrassment for the Japanese as both their finalists in the men’s over-100 kilogram class were disqualified.

Olympic silver medallist Harasawa Hisayoshi and two-time Grand Slam winner Ojitanih Takeshi produced an attack-shy final which culminated with a first double disqualification on this stage.

After a sub-standard final, both judoka received their marching orders with a double hansoku-make issued for the first time as the team-mates received their third shidos simultaneously.

This meant that there was no over 100kg winner and the two Japanese ended with silver medals.

Juan Carlos Barcos, , IJF head referee director, explained the decision.

"The IJF Supervisors and our team deemed that this contest and the way it unfolded was unacceptable," he said.

"There was no intention to fight from either judoka and with the recently amended rules we can now reprimand two judoka in this way.

"This is what we decided as there was no judoka worthy of winning in the over 100kg final."

Japan's Harasawa Hisayoshi and Ojitanih Takeshi were both disqualified in the final of the men's over-100kg final after a double hansoku-make was issued for the first time in an IJF Grand Slam ©IJF
Japan's Harasawa Hisayoshi and Ojitanih Takeshi were both disqualified in the final of the men's over-100kg final after a double hansoku-make was issued for the first time in an IJF Grand Slam ©IJF

There were no such doubts surrounded the three other scheduled finals, however.

Japan’s Ruika Sato won her fourth IJF Grand Slam title with an outstanding win over world champion Mayra Aguiar of Brazil in the under-78kg class.

Sato had beaten Britain’s world bronze medallist Natalie Powell in her semi-final by ippon, with Powell earning bronze with subsequent victory over Karen Stevenson of The Netherlands.

Slovenia’s Klara Apotekar took the other bronze medal.

The second Japanese win of the day came in the women’s over-78kg class through 21-year-old openweight world champion Sarah Asahina, who defeated Tunisia’s Nihel Cheikh Rouhou.

Bronze medals went to Hayun Kim of South Korea and Azerbaijan’s Iryna Kindzerska.

European Under 23 champion Mikhail Igolnikov of Russia defeated Olympic champion Mashu Baker to win his maiden Grand Slam title in the under-90kg class.

The 21-year-old Japanese won the contest on ippon.

Georgia's Varlam Liparteliani, in white, won his first IJF Grand Slam title since moving up to the under-100kg category with victory over Ireland's Ben Fletcher ©IJF
Georgia's Varlam Liparteliani, in white, won his first IJF Grand Slam title since moving up to the under-100kg category with victory over Ireland's Ben Fletcher ©IJF

Bronze went to Mongolia’s Altanbagana Gantulga and Spain’s Nikoloz Sherazadishvili.

Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Varlam Liparteliani of Georgia, who stepped up to the under-100kg category a year ago, earned his first title since the switch with victory over Ireland’s Ben Fletcher, who thus won his country’s first honour at this level.

Bronze medals went to Niiaz Bilalov of Russia and Portugal’s Jorge Fonseca.

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