Iran
Athletes check the venue prior to the women's and men's lead semi-final of the IFSC Climbing World Cup Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. After Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi joined a growing list of female athletes who have been targeted by their governments for defying authoritarian policies or acting out against bullying, a number of others have spoken out on their concerns of politics crossing into their sporting world. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Iran's Rekabi latest female athlete at risk in home country

By Stephen Wade Oct. 21, 2022 11:59 AM EDT

The president of Iran's national Olympic committee (NOC) Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa answers a reporter's question during an interview in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. Khosravi Vafa claimed that competitive climber Elnaz Rekabi will not be punished or suspended after competing in South Korea over the weekend without wearing her nation’s mandatory headscarf. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Iran's Olympic chief claims no punishment coming for climber

By Kim Tong-Hyung Oct. 20, 2022 08:43 AM EDT

Oklahoma State's Trevor Mastrogiovanni celebrates his victory over Iowa's Jesse Ybarra (Iowa) in the Bout at the Ballpark college wrestling dual Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Steve Nurenberg/The Dallas Morning News via AP)
USA, Iowa dominate wrestling event at Texas Rangers' stadium

By Cliff Brunt Feb. 13, 2022 12:38 AM EST

United States' Lindsey Jacobellis (5) reacts as she crosses the finish line followed by France's Chloe Trespeuch (8), United States' Stacy Gaskill (4), and Italy's Michela Moioli (1) during the women's cross finals at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Olympics Live: Iran skier 1st confirmed doping case of Games

Feb. 08, 2022 08:51 PM EST

FILE - Saeid Mollaei of Mongolia celebrates with his silver medal during the award ceremony for the men -81kg judo match at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, on July 27, 2021. The Iran judo federation’s appeal against a four-year ban from international events for refusing to let its athletes face opponents from Israel has been heard, and a verdict should take at least several weeks. The IJF acted against Iran after former world champion Saeid Mollaei left the team in 2019. He claimed he was ordered to lose matches at the 2019 world championships to avoid facing Israelis. Mollaei won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics competing for Mongolia. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Iran appeals ban from judo for avoiding Israeli opponents

Nov. 23, 2021 11:29 AM EST

Bronze medalist United States' Helen Louise Maroulis celebrates on the podium for the women's women's 57kg Freestyle wrestling event,at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
American Taylor beats Iran's Yazdani for wrestling gold

By Cliff Brunt Aug. 05, 2021 10:40 AM EDT

Katarina Johnson-Thompson, of Britain, reacts after falling during a heat in the heptathlon women's 200-meter at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Olympics Latest: World champ Dutch out in women's handball

Aug. 03, 2021 07:59 PM EDT

France's Rudy Gobert (27), left, and Iran's Arsalan Kazemi (41) fight for a rebound during men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
France moves on, 'sad' Iran heads home in men's basketball

By Brian Mahoney Jul. 30, 2021 10:41 PM EDT

FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, file photo, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member and chairman of the Board of Directors for USA Basketball Jerry Colangelo talks to the media in Philadelphia. Colangelo guided the U.S. from its darkest days back to the top of international basketball. Now he wants more victory in the Olympics before ending his run leading USA Basketball. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)
US-Czech game has major Olympic quarterfinal implications

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 30, 2021 06:50 AM EDT

United States players stand during their national anthem prior to men's basketball preliminary round game between United States and Iran at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Basketball diplomacy: US, Iran meet on court at Tokyo Games

By Tim Reynolds Jul. 28, 2021 06:20 AM EDT

United States' Devin Booker (15) dunks the ball ahead of Iran's Mohammadsamad Nik Khahbahrami (14) during a men's basketball preliminary round game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (Gregory Shamus/Pool Photo via AP)
US bounces back from Olympic-opening loss, routs Iran 120-66

By Brian Mahoney Jul. 28, 2021 03:15 AM EDT

The refugee team carry the Olympic flag during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Dylan Martinez/Pool Photo via AP)
EXPLAINER: How team of refugee athletes made it to Olympics

By James Ellingworth Jul. 25, 2021 03:17 AM EDT

Kimia Alizadeh Zonoozi, Refugee Olympic Team, right, is attacked by Britain's Jade Jones during the taekwondo women's 57kg match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Iranian taekwondoka barely misses refugee team's 1st medal

By Greg Beacham Jul. 24, 2021 11:57 PM EDT

Czech Republic's Tomas Satoransky, center, shoots the ball during men's basketball game against Iran at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Czech Republic tops Iran 84-78 in Olympic basketball opener

Jul. 24, 2021 10:57 PM EDT

People prepare the field of play for judo at the Nippon Budokan ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 23, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Algerian judoka refuses potential Olympic bout with Israeli

By Greg Beacham Jul. 23, 2021 10:29 PM EDT

Funa Tonaki of Japan, left, and Distria Krasniqi of Kosovo compete during their women's -48kg championship judo match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Olympics Latest: US men get off to fast start in volleyball

Jul. 23, 2021 08:11 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2016 file photo, Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin of Iran celebrates after winning the bronze medal in a women's Taekwondo 57-kg competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The defector from Iran who left citing institutional sexism will face the Iranian in the opening bout of their taekwondo class at the Tokyo Olympics. The draw Thursday, July 22, 2021, for the women’s 57-kilogram class placed Kimia Alizadeh of the refugee team against Nahid Kiyani Chandeh of Iran. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)
Refugee defector from Iran to face Iranian at Tokyo Olympics

Jul. 22, 2021 08:14 AM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 file photo, France's Teddy Riner, left, competes against Japan's Hisayoshi Harasawa for the gold medal during the men's over 100-kg judo competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Judo is coming home at the Tokyo Olympics, and the Japanese team is under a world of pressure. All of Japan’s stars will be tested, and not all are gold medal favorites. The rest of the world has dynamic champions, and the biggest is 6-foot-8 French heavyweight Teddy Riner, who won two Olympic gold medals and went undefeated in 154 consecutive matches for a full decade from 2010 to 2020 until he lost twice last year. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
The Latest: 3rd Czech athlete tests positive in Tokyo

Jul. 21, 2021 09:45 PM EDT

South Africa's Olympic soccer team members, wearing face masks, leave the training venue in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Monday, July 19, 2021. Two South African soccer players have become the first athletes inside the Olympic Village to test positive for COVID-19. The Tokyo Games open on Friday. (Kyodo News via AP)
Medal predictions for events at the Tokyo Olympics

Jul. 19, 2021 05:57 AM EDT

Jordan's King Abdullah II, center, arrives in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, June 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)
Egyptian, Jordanian and Iraqi leaders meet in Baghdad

Jun. 27, 2021 11:25 AM EDT