Iraqi athletes 'tortured and jailed'

By Harry Peart
BBC sports correspondent in Madrid

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has strongly condemned the actions of Saddam Hussein's eldest son, Uday, when he was president of Iraq's National Olympic Committee.

Iraq used to have a strong sporting tradition

The IOC has accused him of torturing and jailing athletes at his headquarters in Baghdad.

The Iraqi National Olympic Committee has been suspended, and the IOC is sending a mission to Iraq to help athletes prepare for next year's Olympic Games in Athens.

A group of Iraqi exiles in Europe have already set up a provisional group.

Reign of terror

The IOC said Uday Hussein abuse of athletes constituted a gross violation of the Olympic Charter and expressed its sympathy for the victims.

It said no person involved in the abuse will be allowed to participate in the reconstruction of a new Iraqi National Olympic Committee.

Several exiled athletes have revealed how they were tortured under the instructions of Uday Hussein.

There were reports of athletes being forced to crawl along roads covered in hot tar, being thrown into raw sewage and being beaten on the soles of their feet.

The Olympic headquarters were largely destroyed by bombing raids, but instruments of torture were discovered in the basement of the building.

The IOC says its priority is to help athletes preparing for the Athens Games next year, before restructuring the suspended Iraqi Olympic committee.

It will consider providing financial assistance to develop sports programmes.

Iraq used to have a strong sporting tradition, but only sent four athletes to the Olympics in Sydney in 2000.