Kuwait seeks $1bn in damages from IOC over suspension

Kuwait has filed a lawsuit in a Swiss court against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) seeking $1bn (£670m) in damages over the suspension of its Olympic committee (KOC).

In October 2015, IOC and world football governing body Fifa suspended Kuwait saying that laws in the country allow the government to interfere in sports.

Information Minister Sheikh Salman al-Humoud Al-Sabah was quoted by Kuna news agency as saying, "It's totally unacceptable that Kuwait is treated in this unfair way and barred from international sports activities without any appropriate probe being conducted."

He further added, "From the very beginning Kuwait did its utmost to prevent the IOC suspension and showed a sincere desire to co-operate, but all to no avail.

"We sent a UN-sponsored delegation to Geneva to explain to the sports body that the Kuwaiti government by no means intervenes in sports activities."

He complained that Kuwait was put in an "embarrassing position" in the eyes of international sports circles where they were seen as "outlaws".

In January, the government filed another lawsuit in a domestic court seeking $1.3bn (£872m) in damages against 15 Kuwaiti sports officials who allegedly sought the suspension.

On 20 June, the Kuwaiti parliament made sweeping changes to the sports laws but MPs said that the changes were not enough to end the Gulf state's suspension.

Apart from IOC and Fifa, 16 other sporting federations have also blacklisted Kuwait. This is also the third time since 2007, that IOC and Fifa have suspended Kuwait for alleged government interference.