Gambia govt dissolves 21 sports associations

Gambia's sports ministry announced on Tuesday they have dissolved 21 sporting associations for failing to comply with local and international standards. A statement from the ministry said the bodies, including those for volleyball, handball, table tennis, cycling and rugby, were dissolved for "non-conformity with national and international rules, regulations, norms, standards and codes of conduct governing the particular sport". "Any individual or group that deal with these associations mentioned are doing it at their own risk," the statement continued. "The Gambia wants to have very effective national sports associations that will represent the will of the Gambian people, not personal interest." Out of a total of 31 sports associations, only 10 are now allowed to operate in the country, pending what the ministry said was "an inquiry into the dealings of the dissolved associations".