Commonwealth Games Federation bans Fiji from 2010 Games

NEW DELHI - The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Monday decided to ban Fiji from the 2010 Games after the island countrys membership was suspended by the Commonwealth.

CGF president Mike Fennell told reporters after the General Assembly that the executive board had recommended the Commonwealth to remove sport as a part of sanction so that Fiji can take part in the Games.

“Fijis Commonwealth status was fully suspended on Sept 1 by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group and, therefore, it does not meet our own constitutional requirements for membership,” he said.

“However the General Assembly of the CGF has endorsed my proposal to lead a delegation to the Commonwealth Secretary General requesting him to take forward to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting a recommendation from us that sport be removed as part of the sanction imposed upon a nation suspended from the Commonwealth,” he added.

Fennell said if the proposal is accepted, Fiji can participate in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Fiji has been suspended following its failure to meet the deadline to come out with a time schedule to hold credible elections in the country no later than October 2010.