IOC ban Kuwait national Olympic committee

THE International Olympic Committee has suspended Kuwait's national Olympic committee due to alleged interference from the government.

TAKING ACTION: The IOC has suspended the Kuwait national Olympic committee because of alleged political interference (Getty Images)

The IOC revealed its executive board took the decision to introduce the suspension, which came into effect on January 1, in order to protect the Olympic movement in Kuwait.

Kuwait failed to meet the IOC's December 31 deadline for amending government legislation that permits the Gulf state to interfere in elections of sporting organisations.

As a result, the Kuwaiti Olympic committee will no longer receive any Olympic funding and both their athletes and officials will be barred from Olympic Games and Olympic meetings.

The suspension is the latest installment in what has been a protracted issue with the IOC and Kuwait officials, attempting to seek a resolution since 2007.

"The Executive Board will not be able to envisage lifting this suspension until the agreements signed are respected and put into effect," said an IOC statement.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics Kuwait had eight competitors in athletics, judo, shooting, swimming and table tennis.

However their only medal in history was won by Fehaid Al Deehani, who captured shooting bronze at Sydney 2000 in the double trap discipline as Great Britain's Richard Faulds claimed gold.