BEIJING, Aug 10: Iran could face action from the IOC if it deliberately pulled out of the Olympic men's 100m breaststroke heats because an Israeli was also racing, Olympic officials said on Sunday.

Iranian swimmer Mohammad Alirezaei's lane one was empty when the field left the starting blocks on Saturday as Israel's Tom Beeri, starting in lane seven, finished fourth.

IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said she was unaware of the facts, but reiterated IOC policy.

“I wouldn't specifically comment on this incident,” she said.

“Under the spirit of respect and fairplay, if it is confirmed that he deliberately pulled out then the IOC would take it seriously.”

Israel, the Middle East region's sole if undeclared nuclear power, considers Iran its main strategic threat because of its nuclear programme and repeated predictions of the Jewish state's demise by senior Iranian leaders.

During the 2004 Athens Olympics, Iran's judo world champion Arash Miresmaeili, a prominent gold medal hope, refused to compete against Ehud Vaks of Israel in the first round out of solidarity for the Palestinian cause. He still received a $5,000 award the Iranian National Olympic Committee had promised to medal winners.—AFP