Kuwait to be suspended

LAUSANNE, Switzerland: The International Olympic Committee is set to suspend Kuwait's National Olympic Committee from August 1 because of political interference, IOC President Jacques Rogge announced on Tuesday.

The Belgian said that if the public authorities in Kuwait did not amend a national sports law presently in force in the country then they would have no option but to suspend them as it contravened the Olympic Charter.

"The Kuwait Olympic Committee will be suspended on Aug 1, 2009 if, by July 31 the process of amending the local law is not duly finalized, as per the agreements signed and the written commitment of the Kuwaiti authorities," read an IOC statement.