IAAF suspends Algerian federation in rare move

[Al-khiyal]

MONACO (Reuters) - Algerian track and field athletes were barred from all international competitions on Monday after the world governing body suspended the country's athletics federation.

IAAF executive director Pierre Weiss said the rare step followed the dissolution of the federation by the country's Minister of Sport, Yahia Guidoum, in September.

The governing body had asked Guidoum to reinstate the federation's officers, who had been suspended by the minister for four years. Instead, Guidoum set up a new federation last week.

"The IAAF council agreed that the decision of the minister to put in place an interim committee was totally unacceptable and has taken the rare step to suspend the Algerian Athletics Federation from the IAAF with immediate effect," the IAAF said in a statement on its website.

"This decision means that Algerian athletes will not be able to compete in international competitions."

The decision was taken during the first day of an IAAF Council meeting in Monaco.

In the 1970s, South Africa was banned from international competition because of its racist apartheid policies, and more recently, Afghanistan was banned during Taliban rule.

Algeria has a strong tradition in athletics, particularly in middle and long distance events.

Noria Merah-Benida is the women's African champion in the 1,500 metres. Tarek Boukensa is ranked number five in the world in the men's 1,500 metres.

"The IAAF will strongly support the independence of democratically elected federations against all form of government interference," the website quoted IAAF president Lamine Diack as saying.

IAAF suspends Algerian federation in rare move

[Al-khiyal]

Algeria's Youth and Sports Minister Yahia Guidoum declared Tuesday (November 14th) that Algeria "will lodge an appeal" after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) decided to suspend the Algerian Athletic Federation. He dubbed the IAAF decision "tactless" and said that "no article in the IAAF regulations mentions a suspension without having been informed beforehand of all the details of the matter".

On Monday, the IAAF suspended the Algerian federation during its council meeting in Monaco for reasons of government interference and violating the independence of the democratically-elected federation.

Algeria's Guidoum to appeal IAAF ruling for suspension of Algeria's federation

[Al-khiyal]

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President Lamine Diack concluded a working visit to Algeria Tuesday (December 5th). He met with the country's Sports Minister Yahia Guidoum and discussed the suspension of the Algerian federation. Diack reaffirmed the IAAF position and said that a roadmap to fix the various steps - including reinstating Toufik Chaouch-Teyara as president - will be a condition to lift the suspension and end the Algerian athletics crisis.

IAAF president, Algeria's sports minister discuss suspension

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The International Association of Athletics Federations has lifted the ban on Algeria, I'll post more when something gets printed.

[Al-khiyal]

MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AP) -Algeria was reinstated by the IAAF on Monday, nearly a month after being suspended by track and field's governing body because of government interference.

The International Association of Athletics Federations said it had ``agreed with the Algerian authorities to resolve the crisis facing the Algerian Athletics Federation.''

Algeria was suspended on Nov. 14 after the Algerian sports ministry dissolved the national body for four years and installed an interim committee.

Algeria has to follow a series of steps to avoid another suspension, including creating a special committee under the supervision of IAAF council member Jamel Simohamed of Algeria to normalize the situation in the north African country.

The Algerian sports minister also was ordered to lift the suspension of the Algerian Athletics Federation's Federal Bureau.

IAAF reinstates Algeria after 1-month suspension

[Al-khiyal]

Monte-Carlo - The IAAF is pleased to announce a “road map” which has been agreed with the Algerian authorities, to resolve the crisis facing the Algerian Athletics Federation.

IAAF President Lamine Diack met with Professor Yahia Guidoum, the Algerian Minister of Sports, and requested that he come up with durable solutions to enable the IAAF to lift the sanctions imposed on the Algerian Athletics Federation and so allow Algerian athletes to take part in competitions organised on national and international level.

The following decisions have now been agreed to help the development of Algerian Athletics while respecting the interests of Algerian sport.

1. A special Committee, charged with normalising the situation of the Algerian Athletics Federation, shall be created under the supervision of IAAF Council Member Jamel Simohamed (ALG);

2. An Elective General Assembly, with voting rights offered to all concerned in accordance with the statutes of the Algerian Athletics Federation, shall be prepared and organized by the above mentioned Committee;

3. The suspension of the Algerian Athletics Federation’s Federal Bureau by the Algerian Sports Minister will be immediately lifted;

4. As a consequence of the above, the sanctions imposed on the Algerian Athletics Federation by the IAAF shall also be lifted with immediate effect;

5. All parties agree to undertake actions and initiatives in order to help the reconciliation of the Algerian Athletics Family;

6. All the above measures shall be made effective within a maximum period of one month.

Acceptance of IAAF “road map” leads to reinstatement of the Algerian Athletics Federation

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge arrives in Algiers on Monday (December 18th) for a two-day visit. Rogge will attend the signing of the inter-departmental convention on the introduction of the Olympic values in education, scheduled for Tuesday between the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Communication and Culture, the Ministry of Vocational Training and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The autonomy of the Algerian sports federation will reportedly be in the centre of talks between Rogge and Algerian officials.

IOC president arrives in Algiers