West German swimmer Jens Peter Berndt said...

West German swimmer Jens Peter Berndt said in Seoul that East Germany asked the International Olympic Committee to ban him from the Olympic Games because he defected in 1985.

Berndt, who plans to compete in the 200- and 400-meter medley races, said, “I regard the protest as ridiculous. It’s a formality. The IOC already decided on this question.”

The IOC executive board discussed the case at its regular session Sunday without announcing a decision. The board plans to hold talks with the West German team today.