Olympic Panel Limits Soccer in ’92 Games to Players Under 24

The International Olympic Committee gave final approval today to a soccer eligibility plan limiting the tournament at the Barcelona Summer Games to players 23 years old and younger.

The committee also agreed to retain tennis as a medal sport and said the International Tennis Federation must cease competition in South Africa.

At its 95th session, the IOC reluctantly went along with soccer’s ruling body and adopted the age restriction as an experiment that will be reviewed after the 1992 Games. IOC Vice President Kevan Gosper said there was “very extensive debate” on the soccer issue, but both that measure and the one on tennis were adopted by near-unanimous votes.

Gosper also said the IOC had decided to change a rule adopted the previous day barring Olympic eligibility for tennis players who compete in South Africa. He said the ban would stay but would be effective only from today’s vote, not retroactive to the end of the 1988 Games as originally agreed.