http://internet-haganah.us/harchives/002513.html
"ABUALBUKHARY.NET: ACTIVE AND IN PARSIPPANY"
August 15, 2004
This is unbelieveable (literally) after the article yesterday stating that this guy refused to participate with an Israeli. He's still due to receive a $125,000 purse???
Iranian under investigation after Israeli boycott threat
Officials suspect Miresmaeili of intentionally failing weigh-in
Monday, August 16, 2004
In Tehran, meanwhile, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami as well as the media were heaping praise of their fighter saying his protest was justified.
Miresmaeili, 23, who carried his country's flag in Friday's opening ceremony, came to the weigh-in early Sunday but tipped the scale over the limit of 66 kilograms.
He was two kilograms overweight, a source told AFP.
"The IJF is very surprised that such an elite player could not manage to make his weight," Brousse said.
"Maybe he has a diet problem. Maybe he could have had some problems in preparation. We have to know more about it," he said. "If a decision has to be made, a decision will be made."
Heavily favored Miresmaeili, who could have become the first Iranian to win an Olympic judo medal, was drawn to take on Vaks in the first round, but was reportedly refusing to fight as a gesture of support for the Palestinian cause.
Vaks said he felt sorry for the Iranian whom, he said, was forced to opt out of the match because of national policy.
In Tehran on Saturday, it was reported that Miresmaeili was still due to receive a $115,000-dollar cash purse set aside by the Iranian authorities for gold medal winners.(snip)
Meanwhile, Khatami came out in support of Miresmaeili.
"The great act of our self-sacrificing champion, Arash Miresmaeili, who gave up the Olympic medal in protest of massacre, terrorism and usurpation will be recorded among our national glories," Khatami said, cited by state television (snip)
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=7361
http://internet-haganah.us/harchives/002514.html
INTERNET-HAGANAH.US: "FREEARABVOICE.ORG AND AEL-NL.ORG MOVE TO CANADA"
August 15, 2004
Aaron is quite a guy!