Iranian Sportswomen Boycott Games Over Veil Ban

Iranian women at a rally addressed by President Mahmud Ahmadinejad (file photo) (Fars)

October 25, 2006 -- Iran's female karate team is to boycott December's Asian Games after the Asian Karate Federation refused to approve the wearing of Islamic head scarves during fights.

A spokesperson for the Iranian Karate Federation Jabar Pur-Hosseini, explained that the ban was imposed due to a "technical matter" related to what would be done if the garment were to slip during a bout.

(AFP)