'Skirt'ing the issue in Olympics?

Badminton officials are to resume talks over a controversial measure to force women players to wear skirts which could be in force at next year's Olympics, an official said.

Badminton officials are to resume talks over a controversial measure to force women players to wear skirts which could be in force at next year's Olympics, an official said.

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The proposal, which is aimed at boosting the sport's popularity but was shelved in May after complaints that it was sexist, will be on the agenda when the Badminton World Federation (BWF) council meets next month.

The council could decide to proceed with the hotly debated measure, abandon it or defer a decision again, a spokeswoman said. The BWF council has 14 members including 12 men and two women, according to its website. "If the discussion is conclusive there'll be a decision," said media spokeswoman Jan Lin before this week's China Open in Shanghai. She confirmed that if the measure was approved it would influence the dress code at the 2012 London Olympics.

China, Indonesia and India are among a host of countries which have raised objections, while in Malaysia, the opposition Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) called for a boycott of tournaments.

A skirts-only proposal for women fighters is also under consideration by the International Amateur Boxing Association.