THE SIDELINES : Iraqi Muscle Champs Banned

Iraqi bodybuilders have been banned from competing in the Asian Bodybuilding Championship in November and the World Championship to be held in Malaysia in October

The International Bodybuilding Federation and the Asian Bodybuilding Federation had instructed the Malaysian Bodybuilding Federation that Iraq was to be banned from the competition because of its invasion of Kuwait in August, MBBF Chairman Gan Boon Leong told the national news agency Bernama today.

Iraq dominated last year’s Asian Championship in Japan when Abdul Aziz Kareem captured the “Mr. Asia” title.