The International Rowing Federation (FISA) has confirmed that two more Iraqi athletes will be allowed to compete in next month's Beijing Olympics even though the deadline for their entry has passed.
The International Olympic Committee decided to revoke a ban against rowers Haidar Nozad and Hamzah Hussein Jebur in men's doubles sculls. The IOC made the decision because the two men's places had not been given to competitors from other countries.
The decision comes one day after the IOC decided to allow two Iraqi track and field athletes to compete in Beijing. The IOC had suspended all Iraqi competitors from the Games because of government interference in the Iraqi national Olympic committee.
However, the IOC reversed its decision Tuesday in Lausanne after an Iraqi government delegation pledged to hold free elections for its national committee. The decision came too late for Iraqi athletes in judo, archery, and weightlifting. The deadline passed for those sports and their places have been filled by other competitors.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
