Kuwait taekwondo federation regains membership in world body

The Kuwait Taekwondo Federation has been reinstated as a member of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) after lifting the ban of Kuwaiti sports by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a local sports official said on Tuesday. Secretary of the Kuwaiti Judo and Taekwondo Federation, Bargash Al-Janfawi, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the Kuwaiti federation received a letter from the WTF Executive Deputy Secretary General on restoring Kuwait's membership in the international sports body after adoptig the decree on amending sports laws. Al-Janfawi thanked His Highness the Amir for measures he has taken to avoid the ban and ensure Kuwait's participation in all sports events. He said ending the ban on Kuwait will allow the federation to participate in Asian and international tournaments, re-activate the role of the Kuwaiti national team, improve the skills and expertise of Kuwaiti athletes. The IOC froze Kuwait's membership on January 1, 2010 due to the Arab Gulf state's failure to meet the committee's December 31 deadline for amending government laws that permit the government to interfere in elections of sporting organisations.