IOC Meets with Pakistan; CAS Sets Murofushi Hearing; Rumsfeld's Wrestling Appeal

IOC, Pakistan Meet

The IOC met with the head of the Pakistan Olympic Association and the country’s IOC member to discuss a looming crisis with government sport authorities.

Meetings took place in Lausanne with Syed Hasan Arif, POA president, and IOC member Syed Shahid Ali. No representatives from the government were present.

At issue is a dispute over a government ruling that prevents sports leaders from serving more than two terms as president. Arif was recently elected to a third term, then a Pakistani court ruled that he was ineligible to represent himself as POA president.

However, the IOC says the POA elections were fairly held, and as a result, the Arif-led POA "is the sole and unique body recognized by the IOC and which has exclusive jurisdiction to deal with any Olympic-related matters in Pakistan," the IOC said in a statement.

"No body other than the IOC-recognized POA can claim to exercise any Olympic-related activities in Pakistan and/or designate itself as an ‘Olympic’ body and/or use the Olympic rings or any of the properties which belong to the IOC or the POA. Any potential disputes affecting the Olympic Movement in Pakistan should be dealt with through dialogue and mutual understanding within the competent bodies and legitimate structure of the POA, which will be facilitated by IOC member Syed Shahid Ali."

While no government representatives took part in the meeting, the statement said the POA would continue to attempt "to establish fruitful dialogue" with the government, leading to "good solutions for the future which are fully compatible with the principles and rules which govern the Olympic Movement and, in particular, the principle of autonomy of the Olympic Movement."

A spokesperson for the POA told Around the Rings earlier in the week the situation in Pakistan "is worse than India". The IOC suspended the Indian Olympic Association over concerns of government interference in the IOA.

CAS Sets MurofushiHearing

Koji Murofushi will have his date before the Court of Arbitration for Sport on April 10 and 11.

Murofushi, who won a gold in hammer throw representing Japan at the Athens Olympics, was disqualified in his race to become an IOC Athletes' Commission member after the IOC alleged he violated campaign rules. He was disqualified along with Mu Yen Chu of Chinese Taipei, who had his trial in January.

The IOC said it would await the CAS ruling before making a final decision about the outcome of the Athletes' Commission race.

On April 29 and 30, the court will also hear a case between the British Paralympic Association and the International Association for Disabled Sailing & Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee over a bronze medal from the London Paralympics. The British Sonar keelboat team was docked four points and dropped to fifth after an alleged rule infraction. They are appealing the decision.

Rumsfeld Appeals for Wrestling

Former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld calls for the IOC to reinstate wrestling on the Olympic program, saying the sport is one of the "Games’ triumphs."

Rumsfeld was a wrestler for 11 years, including four in the U.S. Navy.

"Olympic wrestling is unlike any other athletic activity," he wrote in an open letter to the IOC posted on his Twitter page.

"Wrestling is a universal sport that anyone can participate in regardless of geography, weather, race, gender or economic background. All that is needed is a flat surface, two competitors and a referee.

"Wrestling has bridged world cultures," he added. "In short, the sport uniquely encapsulates the Olympic spirit. To abandon this great Olympic legacy would be a tragedy for the sport and for the proud tradition of the Olympic Games."

Written by Ed Hula III.

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