Iranian swimmer suffers from pre-emptive Jew-cooties
From AP:
The Iranian swimmer who withdrew from a heat featuring an Israeli at the world championships maintains the move was not political.
“My flight was exactly the day before my race, so I was so tired and drowsy. Because I had to wait for my visa,” Mohammed Alirezaei told The Associated Press two days after not starting a 100-meter breaststroke heat including Gal Nevo of Israel.
Speaking after completing his 50 breaststroke heat Tuesday, Alirezaei added that he had “no problem” competing against Israeli athletes, saying he did so at junior worlds.
However, Alirezaei also pulled out of an event against another Israeli, Tom Beeri, in the 100 breaststroke at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The International Olympic Committee accepted the explanation then that he was ill.
Alirezaei said the fact that both withdrawals came against Israelis was merely a coincidence.
Asked about the latest withdrawal, IOC president Jacques Rogge told the AP on Monday: “I’m sure knowing the rules of FINA, the athletes will have to explain why and that most likely the athletes will have to come up with very good reasons.”