The International Judo Federation says a Saudi competitor -- one of the country's first female athletes ever selected for the Olympics -- will not be allowed to wear a headscarf during competition.
Federation president Marius Vizer ruled that "according to the principles and spirit of judo," Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani could not fight with a headscarf.
The federation's spokesman Nicolas Messner says the decision was made due to safety concerns because of the strangleholds and chokeholds used in the sport.
It could jeopardise Shahrkhani's participation in the Olympics. Saudi leaders only agreed to send women to the Games for the first time on the condition they wear appropriate clothing for Muslim women, including a headscarf.
Published 26 July 2012, 15:51 IST