Gamblor
08-16-2004, 09:24 AM
Games hit by crisis over Iran-Israel contest (http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200408/s1177025.htm)
World Judo champion Arash Miresmaeili won't be competing in Olympics due to the fact that he weighed more than the 66 kilogram limit for his class. Miresaeili carried the Iranian flag in the opening ceremonies Friday night, and is one of the most experienced in his sport but suddenly made a amateurish "error" and was deemed unable to compete.
And now, the rest of the story.
Miresmaeili's first match was supposed to be against Israeli Ehud Vaks. There is no question that Miresmaeili would have wiped the floor with Vaks but Miresmaeili, fearing retribution in his own country and ignoring the "spirit" of the Olympics refused to compete.
World Judo champion Arash Miresmaeili won't be competing in Olympics due to the fact that he weighed more than the 66 kilogram limit for his class. Miresaeili carried the Iranian flag in the opening ceremonies Friday night, and is one of the most experienced in his sport but suddenly made a amateurish "error" and was deemed unable to compete.
And now, the rest of the story.
Miresmaeili's first match was supposed to be against Israeli Ehud Vaks. There is no question that Miresmaeili would have wiped the floor with Vaks but Miresmaeili, fearing retribution in his own country and ignoring the "spirit" of the Olympics refused to compete.