BRIEFS. sports

IOC lifts olympic ban on panama

After months of uncertainty, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) yesterday cleared the way for Panama's athletes to take part in this summer's Olympic Games in China.

The IOC's executive committee decided to lift the suspension it imposed on the Comité Olímpico de Panamá (COP) after an IOC meeting in Guatemala in July of 2007. The suspension was imposed because of government interference in COP activities and internal problems.

The decision clears the way for Panama's world champion long jumper, Irving Saladino, to compete. Saladino, who won the world title last year, represents Panama's best chance at getting its first Olympic medal in 60 years.

Other Panamanian athletes planning to compete in the games are boxer Elton Brown, swimmers Edgar Crespo and Diego Castillo and fencer Jesika Jiménez.

A new COP board was elected March 19, which was apparently instrumental in the IOC lifting its ban.

It was the fourth in a series of elections aimed at resolving internal problems facing by the COP.