Morocco suspend former champ Boulami

The interim committee in charge of managing the Moroccan Royal Athletics Federation (FRMA) on Friday suspended former champ Khalid Boulami from any activity linked to the sport.

The body motivated the decision by what it called Boulami's encouraging Moroccan athletes to quit Morocco's athletics squad and change nationality to defend other countries colors in international events.

Several Moroccan athletes were given recently the citizenship of Qatar and run in the name of the Gulf state in the recent Asian Games, held in Korea. Boulami was said to be coach of the Qatari team during the games.

According to the FRMA Committee, Boulami violated professional, ethic and civic commitments, behaved irresponsibly, and harmed athletics.

Khalid Boulami is 5000 m silver medallist of the world championships in 1995 and 1997. He is also bronze medallist at the Olympic Games of Atlanta.

Boulami denied the Federation's accusations. "This is an irresponsible and groundless decision," Boulami told MAP news agency.

He said the Federation's body is not empowered to suspend him and accused it of trying to make of him a "scapegoat."