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IOC meets amid Beijing concerns IOC denies deal on internet curbs
(about 2 hours later)
Olympic organisers are meeting in China six days before the Beijing Games, amid ongoing concerns about air pollution, internet restrictions and doping. Olympic organisers have denied agreeing to curbs on internet access for foreign journalists at the Beijing Games, due to begin next week.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge arrived in Beijing amid a row over internet access for foreign journalists. International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge said there had been "no deal to accept restrictions".
Lingering concerns about air quality are also hampering final preparations. A number of politically sensitive websites were blocked earlier this week, and some senior Olympic officials said they had been aware of it.
The IOC has also stripped the US 4x400m men's relay team of gold at the Sydney Games in 2000 after a doping admission. China had promised that foreign media would be given unfettered access.
Sprinter Antonio Pettigrew admitted in June that he used banned substances between 1997 and 2003. Leading members of the IOC have been keen to know why the politically sensitive websites were blocked.
In other developments, Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou - who pulled out of the Athens Olympics in 2004 after failing to report for a drugs test - has threatened to sue Mr Rogge if she is barred from Beijing.
The IOC's Kevin Gosper says a team will ensure websites are uncensored.
She was banned for two years after missing her third test, but is now in Greece's athletic team for this year's Games.
And athletics sources have told the BBC that seven Russian athletes at the centre of doping allegations were targeted after testers became suspicious of their unfailing punctuality at out-of-competition tests.
Air fears
The BBC's Alex Capstick, in Beijing, says leading members of the IOC are keen to know why politically-sensitive websites were blocked - despite a promise that foreign reporters covering the Games would be given complete access to the web. We do have fallback plans if all of a sudden it deteriorates to the point where the health and safety of our athletes might be in jeopardy Steve RoushUS Olympic team Reynolds' China: PredictionsBeijing pollution: Facts and figures
Access restrictions appear to have been eased in recent days, but the clamour was only slightly dampened by a rare press conference given by Chinese President Hu Jintao.Access restrictions appear to have been eased in recent days, but the clamour was only slightly dampened by a rare press conference given by Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Mr Hu appealed to the international media not to "politicise" the Beijing GamesMr Hu appealed to the international media not to "politicise" the Beijing Games
Air pollution also remains a big problem. Other major concerns have been about air quality and doping.
The IOC's Kevin Gosper says a team will ensure websites are uncensored.
On Saturday, the IOC stripped gold medals form the US 4x400m men's relay team won at the Sydney Games in 2000, after sprinter Antonio Pettigrew admitted in June that he used banned substances between 1997 and 2003.
The IOC was going to discuss whether to allow Greek athlete Katerina Thanou to compete at the Games, but it now seems a final decision has been delayed until next Thursday.
The sprinter pulled out of the Athens Olympics in 2004 after failing to report for a drugs test.
She was banned for two years after missing her third test, but is now in Greece's athletic team for this year's Games and has threatened to sue Mr Rogge if she is barred from Beijing.
The matter is muddied by the reallocation of the medals won by Marion Jones at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney after she admitted using drugs.
We do have fallback plans if all of a sudden [the air quality] deteriorates to the point where the health and safety of our athletes might be in jeopardy Steve RoushUS Olympic team Reynolds' China: PredictionsBeijing pollution: Facts and figures
Katerina Thanou came second to the US sprinter in Sydney, and theoretically would be in line to be promoted to gold after Jones returned her three gold and two bronze medals.
And athletics sources have told the BBC that seven Russian athletes at the centre of doping allegations were targeted after testers became suspicious of their unfailing punctuality at out-of-competition tests.
Air pollution remains a big problem.
The Chinese authorities have been working on improving the dirty air that hangs over Beijing, but athletes remain concerned.The Chinese authorities have been working on improving the dirty air that hangs over Beijing, but athletes remain concerned.
Steve Roush, head of sports performance with the United States team, said he is monitoring the situation and is optimistic. Steve Roush, head of sports performance with the US team, said he was monitoring the situation and was optimistic.
"We do have fallback plans if all of a sudden it deteriorates to the point where the health and safety of our athletes might be in jeopardy," he said."We do have fallback plans if all of a sudden it deteriorates to the point where the health and safety of our athletes might be in jeopardy," he said.
"But I don't think that if the air quality was at that level that the IOC would even allow for the competition to take place.""But I don't think that if the air quality was at that level that the IOC would even allow for the competition to take place."
Doping scandals
The IOC was going to discuss whether to allow Katerina Thanou to compete at the Games, but it now seems a final decision has been delayed until next Thursday. Thanou's lawyer has threatened to sue if she is not allowed to compete
She was one of two Greek sprinters involved in a drug scandal that completely dominated the start of the 2004 Olympics in Athens before withdrawing.
Now Thanou's lawyer has threatened to sue the IOC if she is barred from competing.
The matter is muddied by the reallocation of the medals won by Marion Jones at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney after she admitted using drugs.
Katerina Thanou came second to the US sprinter in Sydney, and theoretically would be in line to be promoted to gold after Jones returned her three gold and two bronze medals.