Paris: Taliban has reportedly said that it doesn't recognise Afghanistan women athletes participating in Paris Olympics 2024.
A total of six athletes including three women, mostly in exile, will be taking part in the upcoming summer games.
"Only three athletes (referring to the male competitors) are representing Afghanistan," said spokesman of the Taliban government's sports directorate Atal Mashwani to news agency AFP.
Mashwani also said that the Taliban government is supporting the male athletes with training and scholarships as well.
Two of three male athletes live outside Afghanistan while one judo fighter trains in the country. Women athletes, all living in exile, will be participating in athletics and cycling.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said that they have not consulted Taliban officials about the Afghanistan team and that they were not invited to the games.
Afghanistan were also banned in 1999 games - during the first rule of Taliban from 1996 to 2001.
