'It's high time that a strong signal is sent to Iran.' London 2012 logo
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Jewish group: Bar Iran from Olympics
World Jewish Congress says Islamic Republic's athletes should be banned from major international events until they stop boycotting Israeli counterparts. Iranian behavior 'unsportsmanlike and smacks of anti-Semitism,' states WJC President Ronald Lauder
The World Jewish Congress says Iran should be barred from taking part in the Olympics and other international sporting events until its athletes stop boycotting their Israeli counterparts.
The WJC said in a statement that the Iranian behavior was "unsportsmanlike and smacks of anti-Semitism."
An Iranian swimmer pulled out of a race that included an Israeli at the world swimming championships in Shanghai this week, claiming he was "tired and drowsy."
The same swimmer pulled out of a race against an Israeli at the 2008 Olympics, claiming he was ill.
Iranian athletes have pulled out of events in similar circumstances in the past.
“It is high time that a strong signal is sent to Iran that unless this long-standing boycott is lifted, Iranian athletes will not be allowed to enter major international events such as next year’s Olympic Games in London," WJC President Ronald S. Lauder stated Wednesday.
"This kind of bigotry can and must be overcome, and Tehran must give clear undertakings that Iranian athletes do not shun their Israeli counterparts at sporting events.”
Lauder called Iran’s repeated attempts to politicize sporting events “disgraceful” and the regime’s obligation on Iranian athletes not to compete against sportsmen from Israel “a clear breach of the spirit and the letter of the statutes of international sporting bodies.
“To my knowledge," Lauder added, "Israeli sportsmen are the only ones world-wide targeted by such a racist boycott, yet leading federations such as the International Olympic Committee and others are reluctant to take strong and unequivocal action. Iran’s behavior is unsportsmanlike and smacks of anti-Semitism. It must be stopped!”
Iran's Islamic regime is hostile to Israel and backs anti-Israel groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
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