International Olympic Committee revokes Olympic qualifier status for Asian Shooting Championships after Israeli denied visa

The revoking of the qualification status comes as a a big blow for

Next month’s Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait has been revoked of its qualification status by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday as pressure grows on the Gulf nation following the suspension earlier this week, the event’s official website confirmed.

Earlier this week, Kuwait was suspended following the passing of an IOC-imposed deadline for changes to be made to a Government law which supposedly interferes with the independence of sporting institutions.

Kuwaiti officials have disagreed the ban and has described it as "totally unacceptable. The event is scheduled from the November 1-12 but after today’s decision marks another setback for the Gulf nation.

IOC’s announcement was made by the Executive Board who imposed the ban because the designated International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) technical delegate, Yair Davidovich of Israel, was denied a visa by the Kuwaiti Immigration Department, which is a direct violation of the non-discrimination principle of the Olympic Charter which must apply for all Olympic Qualification competitions.

“Upon request of the International Sports Shooting Federation (ISSF), the IOC Executive Board today revoked the Olympic qualification status of the Asian Shooting Championship taking place in Kuwait City between 1 and 12 November." it said in a statement.

“The decision comes after the designated technical delegate from the ISSF, Yair Davidovich (Israel), who was due to supervise the event on behalf of the ISSF, was denied a visa by the Kuwaiti Immigration Department.”

Another reason for stripping the qualifying status for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games by the Olympic Committee was the ban imposed earlier his week on the Kuwait Olympic Committee from all Games-related activities.

The IOC suspended Kuwait on Tuesday for the second time in five years over government interference in the country's Games committee.

The IOC said it met the government and the Kuwait Olympic Committee to resolve the issue over a piece of sports legislation that was seen as threatening the autonomy of the Olympic body, but the talks proved fruitless.

“Another reason for the decision is the fact that the Kuwait NOC is currently suspended by the IOC due to governmental interference against the rules of the Olympic Charter.” it said.

“The KOC is not entitled to participate in any activity connected with the Olympic Movement or exercise any right conferred upon it by the Olympic Charter or the IOC.”

The Gulf nation was first suspended five years ago in 2010 by the IOC due to a dispute over government interference. Ahead of the London Olympic Games in 2012, the country was reinstated after Kuwait’ s ruler, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, pledged autonomy for the Olympic committee and promised new legislation for institutions governing sports.