LONDON, July 27: Olympic and Saudi Arabian officials are in talks with judo chiefs to find a solution after the sport’s governing body ruled the Saudi’s female competitor would have to fight without a hijab, or Islamic headscarf.

On Thursday, the head of the International Judo Federation (IJF) president Marius Vizer confirmed Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdul Rahim Shaherkani, one of the first two female athletes sent to the Olympics by the conservative Muslim kingdom, would not be allowed to wear a hijab.

Shaherkani is due to compete in the women’s heavyweight tournament next Friday, and her participation could now be in doubt.

“We still have one week. She is still scheduled to compete, there’s no information that she won’t compete,” IJF spokesman Nicolas Messner said. “We still have time.” —Reuters