IAAF suspend Algeria
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ByEurosport
Published 13/11/2006 at 21:52 GMT
Algerian track and field athletes were barred from international competition on Monday after the IAAF suspended their athletics federation. IAAF executive director Pierre Weiss blamed the dissolution of the federation by the country's Minister of Sport, Y
ATHLETICS Algeria Noria Merah-Benida
Image credit: Imago
The governing body had asked Guidoum to reinstate the federation's officers, who had been suspended by the minister for four years. Instead, Guidoum set up a new federation last week.
"The IAAF council agreed that the decision of the minister to put in place an interim committee was totally unacceptable and has taken the rare step to suspend the Algerian Athletics
Federation from the IAAF with immediate effect," the IAAF said in a statement on its website.
"This decision means that Algerian athletes will not be able to compete in international competitions."
The decision was taken during the first day of an IAAF Council meeting in Monaco.
In the 1970s, South Africa was banned from international competition because of its racist apartheid policies, and more recently, Afghanistan was banned during Taliban rule.
Algeria has a strong tradition in athletics, particularly in middle and long distance events.
Noria Merah-Benida is the women's African champion in the 1,500 metres. Tarek Boukensa is ranked number five in the world in the men's 1,500 metres.
"The IAAF will strongly support the independence of democratically elected federations against all form of government interference," the website quoted IAAF president Lamine Diack as saying.
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