Black day for Iraqi sport

The Iraq National Olympic Committee described Thursday as a 'black day' after its suspension by the International Olympic Committee virtually ruled the country out of competing at the Beijing Games.

The INOC was temporarily suspended on June 4 because of concerns of political interference, and the IOC has now sent a letter to the Iraqi organisation to confirm that position.

"The decision is very harsh and the only losers from all of this will be the Iraqi athletes who were banned from taking part in the Olympic Games," said INOC deputy president Bashar Mostafa.

"The decision was taken just because the Iraqi government received mis-information about the executive board of the Olympic Committee and decided to intervene."

"The first punishment will be the ban imposed on Iraqi athletes from taking part in Beijing and there will be more decisions which will be taken at the end of the Olympic Games."

INOC general secretary Hussain Al Amidi added: "It's a black day in the history of sports in Iraq."

"The decision has put an end to the political interference in Iraqi sports."

"The decision to ban Iraqi athletes will affect the aims of Iraq in the current development process."

"The interference of Iraqi government in sports was against the international laws and we confirmed this before."

The situation means that almost all the Iraqi athletes hoping to compete next month have been shut out of the competition, with only slim hopes for two sprinters.

There were Iraqis planning to compete in the rowing, archery, weightlifting and judo competitions.

The deadline has passed for competitors to take up places in all sports except athletics, and the IOC said that while it does not expect a resolution to be found in time, there is still a chance of the two sprinters being able to compete.

"Despite the best efforts of the International Olympic Committee, today it seems very unlikely that any Iraqi athlete will compete at the Beijing Olympic Games," the IOC said in a statement released to PA Sport.

"The IOC would like to see Iraqi athletes in Beijing, and is disappointed they have been so ill-served by their own government's actions."

The INOC was suspended last month after the Iraqi government dismissed the original committee and replaced it with a new board chaired by the Minister of Sport, violating the IOC's regulations regarding political interference in the running of sport.

"The Iraqi government was invited to come to Lausanne to discuss possible remedies, but did not positively respond to the IOC's invitation," the IOC statement added.

"The deadline for taking up places for Beijing for all sports except athletics has now passed and, with no resolution in sight, the IOC must acknowledge that it is likely there will be no Iraqi presence at the Beijing Olympic Games."

"Over the last five years, the IOC and the wider Olympic family have provided funding and training opportunities to support the Iraqi NOC and more than 50 Iraqi athletes and coaches. The Iraqi government's actions have destroyed this progress."

"The IOC will continue to search for ways to help Iraqi athletes."