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SA withdrawn from Olympic men's hockey

The International Hockey Federation will ask Argentina's men's hockey team to participate in the XXVIIth Olympic Games in Sydney.

This follows a decision by the National Olympic Committee of South Africa not to allow the South African men's team to participate in the hockey tournament of the Games.

South Africa had qualified directly for the Olympics after winning the all-African Games' title.

"The FIH deeply regrets that the African continent will not be represented in the men's hockey tournament, and that NOCSA has not respected the athletes' right to participate despite having qualified," said a statement from the FIH.

Argentina was the first reserve men's team, after finishing seventh in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Osaka, in March 2000.

"The FIH sincerely wishes Argentina the best of luck in their preparations for the Games," the statement added.