BEIJING, China (CNN) -- An Iranian swimmer at the Beijing Olympics who withdrew from a race that included an Israeli did so because he was ill, authorities said Monday.

The swimmer, Mohammad Alirezaei, did not compete in the men's 100-meter breaststroke heat Saturday because of illness and not for any other reason, a spokesman for the Iranian Embassy in Beijing told CNN.

Iran could have faced sanctions from the International Olympic Committee if Alirezaei deliberately pulled out so he did not have to compete against Israel's Tom Beeri.

Relations between the two countries are non-existent.

Iran [1] does not recognize Israel and accuses the Jewish state of trying to destabilize the republic. Israel has not ruled out military action to halt Iran's nuclear aspirations.

Four years ago, at the Olympic Games [2] in Athens, an Iranian athlete pulled out of the opening round of a judo competition that included an >>>