Deborah Allan


Deborah "Debbie" Allan is a former British judoka. She won three European Championship medals, including a gold at the 1999 European Championships. Allan was scheduled to compete at the 2000 Summer Olympics, but was disqualified at the weigh-in for being over the weight limit.

Career

Allan is from Camberley, Surrey, England, and trained at the Camberley Judo Club. In 1994, she was involved in a row with coach Mark Earle, which led to him being temporarily suspended by British Judo. Allan won a bronze medal at the 1994 European Championships, a silver medal at the 1998 European Championships and won the 1999 European Championships. Allen qualified for the under 52kg event at the 2000 Summer Olympics, but was over the weight limit at the weigh-in. Her coach Diane Bell cut Allan's hair and made her stand naked on the weighing scales. Allan was still above the weight limit, and so was disqualified from the event. She was banned by the British Judo selection panel for six months, although this was later overturned on appeal.