<p>Saudi Arabia has threatened to withdraw from the Olympics unless a female judo athlete was allowed to wear her headscarf in competition, The Telegraph reported Friday. <br /><br />The Saudis said the women could compete only if they were allowed to wear appropriate Muslim clothing.</p>.<p><br />On Thursday night the International Judo Federation president Marius Vizer said Wujdan Shahrkhani could not fight with a headscarf.<br /><br />He said the decision was a result of safety concerns and also "according to the principles and spirit of judo".<br /><br />Judo spokesman Nicolas Messner said the hijab could be dangerous because the sport involved strangleholds and chokeholds.<br />However, judo federations in Asia have allowed Muslim women to wear hijabs.<br /></p>
<p>Saudi Arabia has threatened to withdraw from the Olympics unless a female judo athlete was allowed to wear her headscarf in competition, The Telegraph reported Friday. <br /><br />The Saudis said the women could compete only if they were allowed to wear appropriate Muslim clothing.</p>.<p><br />On Thursday night the International Judo Federation president Marius Vizer said Wujdan Shahrkhani could not fight with a headscarf.<br /><br />He said the decision was a result of safety concerns and also "according to the principles and spirit of judo".<br /><br />Judo spokesman Nicolas Messner said the hijab could be dangerous because the sport involved strangleholds and chokeholds.<br />However, judo federations in Asia have allowed Muslim women to wear hijabs.<br /></p>