SYDNEY International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio Samaranch has expressed serious concern to Australian Prime Minister John Howard at an entry ban on two members of the Olympic family, IOC officials said on Saturday.
Senior boxing official Gafur Rakhimov from Uzbekistan and International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Vice President Carl Ching of Hong Kong were denied entry to Australia for the Sydney Olympics beginning next Friday.
Australian Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said on Friday the bans had been imposed for security reasons.
"We are dealing with serious issues of character," he said without elaborating.
In a letter to howard dated September 8, Samaranch said the election of Sydney as host city for the games had been conditional upon a commitment from Australia's federal government to respect the rights of accredited members of the Olympic family to enter the country.
"This is a matter of the most serious concern for the Olympic movement," Samaranch wrote.
"The IOC hereby respectfully requests to be informed by the federal government of Australia of the exact reasons for which entry has been denied so far to both above mentioned persons contrary to the commitment referred to above." (Reuter)