Malaysia is facing suspension from international taekwondo because of government interference in its affairs.

T. Kumar, secretary general of the Malaysian Taekwondo Association (MTA), said that a dispute with national sports commissioner Elyas Omar could threaten their participation at the Beijing Olympics.

The MTA was deregistered in 2005 because it refused to give voting rights to clubs.

However, under an agreement with Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said in July, it backtracked and was allowed to resume operations.

According to media reports, Elyas is still refusing to recognise the MTA.

"The WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) has been very lenient with us," Kumar said. "They have not done anything yet but we know they are concerned about the situation and we never know what will happen in the future.

"If they act, then it could threaten our place in the Olympics."

The WTF, which has the right to suspend associations subjected to government interference, has so far resisted moves to intervene.

Two members of Malaysia's taekwondo team, Elaine Teo (57kg) and Che Chew Chan (67kg), have already booked places in Beijing via an Olympic qualifying tournament in Vietnam in November.

Reuters