Politics Pollute Inaugural Youth Olympic Games

Iran was accused of putting politics before sports at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore on Sunday after withdrawing from a taekwondo final against Israel. The Iranian delegation told the Games' internal news service that Mohammad Soleimani did not compete because of injury, while Israel called the withdrawal politically motivated. "My understanding is that he was taken to [a] hospital and unable to compete," International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams told the Associated Press.

But Alex Gilady, an IOC member from Israel who handed out medals for the competition, isn't buying it. Iran does not recognize Israel and has a policy of not competing against its athletes. In recent years, it has used various tactics to justify withdrawal. Gilady doubted Soleimani was injured and needed hospitalization, and claimed the move was made to ensure Iran didn't violate Olympic rules. Gilady told AP reporter Michael Casey that once Soleimani was deemed injured, he would win the silver medal and would have "to stand on the podium and listen to the Israeli anthem and see the Israeli flag over the Iranian flag."

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