JERUSALEM — A Jewish organization says Iran should be barred from taking part in the Olympics and other international sporting events until its athletes stop boycotting their Israeli counterparts.
The World Jewish Congress says the Iranian behavior is “unsportsmanlike and smacks of anti-Semitism.”
An Iranian swimmer pulled out of a race that included an Israeli at the world swimming championships in Shanghai this week, claiming he was “tired and drowsy.”
The same swimmer pulled out of a race against an Israeli at the 2008 Olympics, claiming he was ill.
Iranian athletes have pulled out of events in similar circumstances in the past.
Iran’s Islamic regime is hostile to Israel and backs anti-Israel groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
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