Samaranch: Apartheid to Keep IOC Ban in Effect

Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee, Tuesday dismissed reforms in South Africa as superficial and said a sports ban against the country will not be relaxed.

“The ingredients for eradicating apartheid have not been lifted, therefore the international sanctions should be maintained to pressure South Africa to lift its policy of apartheid,” Samaranch said at a meeting of a United Nations anti-apartheid commission in Kuwait.

He said the IOC is aware of the recent developments in South Africa and two members of the IOC have met with some South African Olympic Committee members.