Ethiopia boycotts Qatar Grand Prix
The Peninsula, Qatar
5/9/2008
DOHA Ethiopian athletes will not be participating in the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix today, the Qatar Association of Athletic Federation (QAAF) announced. �Ethiopian athletes will not be taking part in Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix,� Dahlan Al Hamad, Qatar Association of Athletic Federation�s President, said yesterday.
�We were expecting the participation of nine athletes from Ethiopia. Unfortunately politics has got in the way of sports and Ethiopian government has stopped them from coming here,� Dahlan added. �We had sent them air tickets and visa. But they have been stopped by their government. I would like to wish them good luck for their future events and also Beijing Olympics,� Dahlan, who is also a Vice President of IAAF, said.