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Olympic exclusion 2024? IOC threatens Iran and Afghanistan

Dhe International Olympic Committee (IOC) has threatened the National Olympic Committees of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Afghanistan – the latter again – with exclusion from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, but at the same time has not issued any sanctions. After the second day of the IOC executive meeting in Lausanne, a press release said that there was no “tangible progress” with regard to the situation in Afghanistan.

In December, the IOC demanded that the ruling Taliban give women and girls access to sport. With a view to the situation of athletes in Iran, the IOC now says for the first time that it reserves “any reasonable measure” “regarding the participation of the Iranian NOC and its athletes in the Olympic Games 2024 depending on the development of the situation”.

The IOC now has the report that was requested by the organization after a meeting on February 2 between IOC President Thomas Bach and Mahmud Khosrawiwafa, the President of the Iranian NOC. At that time, according to the IOC, Bach had demanded that the Iranians observe and comply with the Olympic Charter. In addition to discrimination against female athletes, the Islamic Republic’s state doctrine has for decades prevented its athletes from competing with Israeli athletes.

“The IOC has had serious concerns over the past few months about the situation of Iranian athletes and the Olympic community as a whole in the context of the riots and demonstrations in the country voiced. The NOC is called upon to act before the highest authorities to protect athletes and members of the Olympic community from a humanitarian point of view.” The Islamic Republic executed karateka Mohammad Mehdi Karami on January 7th.

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