Bahrain's Sheikh Ali bin Abdulla Al Khalifa is the new President of the Asian Shooting Confederation ©ASC

Kuwait's Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, the Government official at the centre of a bitter dispute with the Olympic Movement, has stood down as President of the Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC).

He has been replaced by Bahrain's Sheikh Ali bin Abdulla Al Khalifa.

Sheikh Salman, Kuwait's Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, was behind a new law which gives him control over all sports clubs in the country.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) claims this compromises the autonomy and independence of sporting bodies.

Kuwait was suspended from the IOC last month after a deadline of October 27 for changes to be made to the law passed, with the law instead coming into force and beginning to be implemented. 

At least 10 other International Federations has now followed the IOC lead, including football's world governing body, FIFA, the International Swimming Federation and the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).

IOC-recognition for the recent Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait City was also withdrawn, as a consequence both of the law and the fact an Israeli technical official was reportedly denied a visa to enter the country for it. 

This meant no quota places could be secured for next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“The revoking of quota status comes just a few days prior to the commencement of the Championships and is politically motivated," Sheikh Salman told delegates from 35 Federations.

"Therefore we assure you that we will fight for the rights of all our athletes in Asia.

"We do not find any faults on the part of Kuwait Shooting Federation and we would like to reiterate that their actions have been legally, ethically and morally correct.”

Kuwaiti Sports Minister Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah has stood down as Asian Shooting Confederation President ©ISSF
Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah has stood down as head of the Asian Shooting Confederation ©ISSF

He then informed delegates he would like to withdraw his nomination as the ASC President "for the benefit of shooting sport in Asia and participating athletes".

Sheikh Ali was elected uncontested as his replacement.

Sheikh Salman expressed his "support and cooperation" for the new President. 

Five vice-presidents were also confirmed: Taiwan's Kuo Chung Hsing, Qatar's Ali Al-Ghanem, China's Zeng Zhigang, Pakistan's Javaid Lodhi and Iran's Seyed Mahdi Hashemi.

Nepal's Pushpa Das Shrestha will be secretary general.

The decision represents the end of Sheikh Salman's direct involvement with the Olympic Movement, with the official having stood unsuccessfully against Mexico's IOC member Olegario Vazquez Raña as head of the ISSF last year. 

insidethegames exclusively reported on the eve of the election that he had allegedly been using his Government position to illegally lobby voters.

His representatives had allegedly contacted Sports Ministers around the world on his behalf urging them to support his campaign. 



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