Jaben Suspended Two Years, Replaced by Nimrod Sapira Bar-Or

B"H

Well, not the outcome I would have preferred, but Jaben made a big mistake, I guess. I sure would have liked to know what happened, word for word, in that meeting last Tuesday.

Well, let's hope he keeps in shape for the next Olympics.

M
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Olympic c'mte okays last minute addition to team
By Rami Hipsh
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1007623.html

Israel's Olympic team gained its 43rd member yesterday after the Israel Olympic Committee tribunal decided to include swimmer Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or in the delegation.

Judges Elyahu Levin, Udi Artzi and Yigal Borchovski decided to accept the swimmer's claim that he was initially barred from inclusion on the team, as his spot was already taken by Max Jaben.

Last month, however, Jaben was found to have taken illegal substances, and was suspended from competing for two years. Meanwhile, Shapira Bar-Or broke an Israeli record in the 200-meter freestyle.

"I thank everyone who supported me," Shpira Bar-Or said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Shapira Bar-Or missed the training camp that Israel's swimming team attended in Japan. Olympic Committee officials said they were not worried about Shapira Bar-Or's absence from the camp, and that they were sure he would represent Israel with honor.

As the Olympics in Beijing near, Israeli athletes have begun leaving for China. Some 20 members of the Israeli delegation will head out tomorrow night, including medalist judoka Arik Zeevi and sailor Nofar Edelman. Olympic Committee officials stressed yesterday that Edelman was approved to take part in the games only due to her exceptional achievement in the European championship, where she came in seventh.

Shahar Peer, another Israeli athlete who is among the world's best in her field, began a short tennis training camp yesterday with her doubles partner Tzipi Obziler. "I'm glad I'm with Tzipi," said Peer, who is ranked 23rd in the world, of her teammate. Obziler is a veritable force of nature who manages to compete solidly in both the singles and especially doubles tournaments around the world, at the relatively advanced age of 35.

Peer will arrive at the Olympics after a prolonged slump in her career. She recently lost in the second round of the Montreal tennis tournament.