No Olympics for Iraq

Athletes from Iraq have been banned from taking part at the Beijing Games.



The International Olympic Committee (IOC) made the announcement earlier today.



The team was already the subject of an interim ban, after the Iraqi government replaced the country’s Olympic Committee with its own appointees.



Under the IOC rules, all committees must be free of political influence.



As a result, the team of two rowers, two sprinters, one archer, one weightlifter and one judo competitor cannot attend.