National Olympic Committee of Kenya secretary general Francis K Paul, left, and vice-chairman Pius Ochieng, right, appear at the High Court in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, following their arrest last week on their return from Brazil. Three senior Kenyan Olympic committee officials are the subjects of a criminal investigation relating to alleged theft and abuse of office during this month's Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, with Ochieng and Paul being granted bail, while Kenya team leader Stephen Arap Soi was absent from court for medical reasons. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)
The Associated Press
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) - The IOC says it may be forced to consider sanctions against Kenya after its national Olympic committee was disbanded.
The International Olympic Committee says it is "extremely concerned" by the situation in Kenya, where three senior officials were arrested for alleged abuse of office during the Rio de Janeiro Games.
The IOC says it "will not accept any action or interference from government authorities that would go against the basic principles and rules of the Olympic Charter."
The committee says "if the situation is not rectified, the IOC might be forced to consider protective measures as provided in the Olympic Charter."
That means the IOC could suspend Kenya for government interference. Kuwait remains suspended for similar reasons, and its athletes competed under the Olympic flag - not its national banner - in Rio.
National Olympic Committee of Kenya secretary general Francis K Paul, left, and vice-chairman Pius Ochieng, right, appear at the High Court in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, following their arrest last week on their return from Brazil. Three senior Kenyan Olympic committee officials are the subjects of a criminal investigation relating to alleged theft and abuse of office during this month's Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, with Ochieng and Paul being granted bail, while Kenya team leader Stephen Arap Soi was absent from court for medical reasons. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)
The Associated Press