Kuwait to sue International Olympic Committee for $1bn

This comes after the IOC suspended Kuwait's Olympic body in October on grounds of government interference in sports.

Due to the decision, Kuwaiti athletes have been prevented from competing under their country's flag at this year's games hosted in Rio de Janeiro.

Kuwait's response was to take to local courts to file a lawsuit in January against 14 board members of its Olympic committee seeking $1.3 billion.

It accused the member of corrupting Kuwait's Olympic movement and interfering in its sports affairs.

The announcement of this latest legal action, however, will deepen the spat and likely make Kuwait's prospects of competing in Brazil even slimmer.

Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman al-Homoud al-Sabah announced the legal action that was reported by the state-owned Kuwait News Agency.

Sheikh Salman blasted the committee's decisions as "totally unacceptable," adding that Kuwait had "showed a sincere desire to cooperate, but all to no avail". 

"We were put in an embarrassing situation in the eyes of international sports circles and looked at as if we were outlaws," he continued.

Kuwait's tussles with the IOC began in 2010 when the country was also suspended for government interference. It was then reinstated in 2012 prior to the London games after the country's ruler, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, promised reform and autonomy for Kuwait's Olympic body.

As it stands, Kuwaiti athletes will be able to perform at the Rio games, however only under the Olympic flag.