IOC suspends Kuwait Olympic committee

The IOC has suspended Kuwait’s national Olympic committee because of alleged political interference by the government.

The International Olympic Committee says the decision was taken by its executive board to “protect the Olympic movement in Kuwait.”

The suspension took effect on Jan. 1.

The IOC says Kuwait failed to meet a Dec. 31 deadline for amending a law that allows the Gulf state to interfere in elections of sports organizations.

The IOC had been working with Kuwaiti officials since 2007 to resolve the issue.

The suspension means Kuwaiti athletes and officials are barred from the Olympic Games and Olympic meetings, and the Kuwaiti committee will no longer receive any Olympic funding.