ISSF seeking alternative Asian Olympic shooting qualifier after IOC revoke status of Kuwait event

Asian shooters now need another opportunity to gain Olympic qualification ©ASC

International Sport Shooting Federation (ISSF) President Olegario Vazquez Raña has vowed to find an alternative location to host an Asian Qualifying Competition for Rio 2016 after an event in Kuwait was stripped of its status by the International Olympic Committee.

It follows the IOC's ruling Executive Board announced it had withdrawn its recognition of the Asian Shooting Championships, due to take place in Kuwait City from November 1 to 12, after it refused a visa to an official from Israel.

The Championships will still take place as scheduled, but will now offer no quota places or qualifying points for Rio 2016.

“The ISSF is very concerned about this development and regrets it in particular regarding our Asian athletes," said Mexico's ISSF President Vazquez Raña in a letter addressed to all Member Federations.

"We will work under full speed to provide a location for another qualifying competition and try to find a good solution for the distribution of the 35 quota places assigned to our Asian athletes as soon as possible.

"This solution should also include some financial support to the participating athletes to cover part of the extra costs."

The ISSF added in a statement how they will "monitor the situation and inform its stakeholders about any development in this matter".

insidethegames understands India is one country which could host an alternative qualifying event, but no decision has yet been made.

Asian Shooting Confederation President Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Homoud Al-Sabah (right) is also the Kuwaiti Sports Minister so is responsible for the controverial legislation ©ASC

The announcement on Thrusday (October 29) followed Kuwait's suspension from the IOC on Tuesday (November 27) after the passing of a deadline for changes to be made to a Government law which supposedly threatens the independence of sporting institutions.

The ban has been described as "totally unacceptable" by Kuwaiti officials.

The ban on the Asian Shooting Championships was also imposed partly because the designated ISSF technical delegate, Yair Davidovich of Israel, was denied a visa by the Kuwaiti Immigration Department, a direct violation of the non-discrimination principle of the Olympic Charter which must apply for all Olympic qualification competitions.

It is also surely not a coincidence, however, that Kuwaiti Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Homud Al-Sabah, the official responsible for the contraversial Kuwaiti law, is also President of the Asian Shooting Confederation.

Last year, he stood unsuccessfully to replace IOC member Vazquez Raña as head of the ISSF, with insidethegames exclusively reporting how he had been supposedly using his Government position to collect votes, with his representatives allegedly contacting Sports Ministers around the world on his behalf urging them to support his campaign.