BERLIN (Reuters) – The International Olympic Committee banned the Guatemalan Olympic Committee on Sunday after the country failed in an internal legal dispute, it said.
The IOC warned last month that if the factor is not resolved by Oct. 15, the country’s National Olympic Committee would be banned.
“A solution cannot be found between the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Guatemala and the competent government of Guatemala within the established timeframe,” the IOC said in a statement.
The NOC disagrees with the country’s Constitutional Court on certain provisions of the Olympic body’s regulations.
The IOC’s suspension means Guatemalan athletes constitute their country at the Olympics and the NOC is at a disadvantage of any IOC funding.
“In the interest of the athletes and the Olympic Movement in Guatemala, the IOC suggested that the NOC and the competent government of Guatemala meet and find an appropriate solution. . . which would allow the IOC Executive Board to lift the suspension of the NOC as soon as possible. . as possible,” the IOC said.
Paris will host the Olympic Games in 2024.
(Reporting through Karolos Grohmann; Editing via Tothrough Davis)
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