IOC pending results of investigation into measures against Serbia

European Olympic Committee President Janez Kocijancic has said his organisation will not tolerate the discrimination of athletes, but has added it will expect the results of the investigation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following the obstruction of the Kosovo karate team from participating in the European Karate Championship in Serbia this week.

Père Miro, deputy director general of the IOC, has said of “insidethegames” that there are “ready to take the necessary measures to avoid this situation to repeat”.

Miro said the IOC was aware “of Kosovo's problematic participation” in the event, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

A series of meetings, mediated by the IOC, were held between the World Karate Federation, the European Federation of Karate (EKF), National Olympic Committees and the Government of Serbia, broadcast Koha.net.

According to Miros, an agreement on Kosovo's participation was reached.

Serbia's government warned earlier this week that Kosovo's delegation will not be allowed to present any national symbols during the event, which started yesterday and ends tomorrow.

The government later confirmed that Kosovo will not be able to attend the event.

Although the organisation in question is not even involved in the European Championships, the event happened with the EOC seminar in Belgrade.

The Kosovo Olympic Committee also participated in this two-day seminar, which ended in Belgrade today.

Kocijancic welcomed Kosovo's participation in the event, while stressing that the organisation will wait for the IOC's investigation into the European Karate Championship to come to an end.

“Regarding the incident at the European Karate Championship, an IOC investigation is under way and we should expect results”, he told “insidethegames”, Coha.net broadcast.

The largest part of this is happening at the political and state level. It's not our area, we never get involved in the decisions of places to know or not other countries. Unfortunately, in Europe we have a number of problems like this. On long-term grounds, we will never tolerate the discrimination of athletes at any time. It is very clear, the Kosovo National Olympic Committee is recognised by the IOC and are a member of EOC”, Kocijancic said.

He stressed that Kosovo has participated in events organised by the EOC IOC, and in Serbia's case it is not something different because “when we sit around the table, we are all equal”.

In another development, The ECF has said it has held an extraordinary meeting to analyse events related to the participation of Kosovo athletes.

They have now launched a separate investigation by the IOC, where a special commission to collect information has been assembled.

The “Commission will be led by ECF Secretary General Stjepan Celan”, says in an ECF statement, Coca.net broadcasts.

“First vice president of ECF, Jiri Bocek and third vice president of The EKF, Wolfgang Weigert, will complete the panel. After all details concerning the case have been taken from all parties involved, the commission will draft a report to be analysed by the Executive Committee”, the ECF's statement was said.

We remember that long ago, Spain was denied the right to organise the Junior and U-23 Weightlifting Championships because of this country's political stance against Kosovo.