The absent Israeli flag at the Doha swimming event. Photo: Screenshot.

JNS.org – The Qatari body tasked with overseeing the FINA Swimming World Cup in Doha removed an Israeli flag from outside one of its venues, and state broadcasters whited out the Israeli flag on the swimming lanes as they were seen on TV, Doha News reported.

Aspire Zone, a sporting complex in the Qatari capital, may have been responding to pressure from local groups, who expressed opposition to raising the Israeli flag publicly. Following a tweet that showed a photograph of the Israeli flag alongside several others, a security guard told Doha News on Monday that the flag was removed.

The FINA Code of Ethics states that any tournament shall have “no discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion, or political opinion.” Neither Qatari officials nor FINA have responded to inquiries over the flag’s removal.