In the letter dated July 23 and addressed to the Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sports Jassim Mohammed Jaffer, the IOC said it was moving ahead with a ban first imposed on Iraq's athletes last month.

 

"In spite of all the joint efforts of IOC and OCA (Olympic Council of Asia), over the last months to find a positive solution with the Iraqi government authorities, we regretfully inform you that the decision of the IOC executive board dated 4 June 2008 to suspend the National Olympic Committee of Iraq is confirmed," said the letter.

 

"We deeply regret this outcome which severely harms the Iraqi Olympic and Sports Movement and the Iraqi athletes but which is unfortunately imposed by the circumstances."

 

The IOC suspended Iraq for "political interference" in its national Olympic committee which was sacked last month and replaced by a new panel headed by Jaafar.

 

The IOC had warned of sanctions after Iraq disbanded its Olympic committee and other sports bodies on May 21, 2008.

 

After the initial suspension it was believed that up to seven Iraqi athletes would still participate in the Games beginning on August 8.

 

However the IOC made clear in the letter that the chance for Iraqi athletes to compete under the Olympic flag in lieu of the national flag was over.

 

"The quota places obtained through the qualification systems and the invitation places offered by the Tripartite Commission to Iraqi athletes have been withdrawn and re-allocated to other NCOs," the letter said.

 

The Iraqi government ordered the dissolution of the National Olympic Committee on May 20.

 

It claimed the committee was illegitimate because it could not reach a quorum since four of its 11 members, including chairman Ahmed al-Hijija, were kidnapped in Baghdad in 2006.

 

There has been no word on their fates.

 

The Government also has accused the Olympic committee of corruption, while supporters of the committee say officials simply want to install their own people into the lucrative and prestigious posts.

 

The Youth and Sports Ministry is dominated by Shiites, while the Olympic Committee includes several Sunni holdovers from the Saddam Hussein era.

 

Four years ago in Athens Iraq were represented in seven sports, including football where their team produced one of the most emotional stories of the Games, reaching the semi-final of the tournament and narrowly missing out on a bronze medal in a third place play-off with Italy.