Italy half marathon backtracks and invites African runners

ROME (AP) — Organizers of the Trieste half marathon have backtracked and revoked their ban on African runners following an outcry of racism accusations.

Race manager Fabio Carini announced late Saturday that after the ban had “drawn a lot of attention to a key ethical issue, contrarily to what was announced yesterday, we are also inviting African athletes.”

Carini said the ban for next Sunday’s race had been put in place because African athletes are often taken advantage of by their agents.

The ban was revoked after the Italian athletics federation opened an investigation into the race’s organization.

The Italian Olympic Committee said that it was in constant contact with the athletics federation over revising the position of agents,” adding that the fundamental values of sports are “inclusion, respect and brotherhood; and always and forever contrary to every form of discrimination.”