IOC could soon lift Ghana ban

DURBAN, South Africa, July 8 (Reuters) - Ghana's Olympic ban
could be lifted in the coming days after the government took
steps to amend a controversial sports law, the International
Olympic Committee said on Friday. 

"The president of the country has been in contact with the
president of the IOC and the government has taken steps that the
new sports law will respect the Olympic charter," said Pere
Miro, director of relations with national Olympic committees. 

"In the next weeks, probably in the next days, we will be in
a position to propose lifting the suspension of Ghana," he said. 

The IOC suspended the Ghanaian national committee in January
over what it said was political interference. 

Ghana, the second country to be banned following Kuwait last
year, is not eligible for any IOC funds and its athletes are
banned from competing in the Olympic Games until the suspension
is lifted. 

The IOC session also withdrew recognition of the Netherlands
Antilles Olympic Committee as the country was split into
autonomous territories within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in
October last year. 

"Of course we have accompanying measures to protect the
athletes," said IOC president Jacques Rogge, in reference to
them being able to compete under the Olympic flag in London.