KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s supreme court has upheld a lower court ruling overturning a prison sentence handed to Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, one of the most influential figures in the Olympic movement and world sport.

Ali al-Rasheedi, a lawyer for Sheikh Ahmad, told the Associated Press news agency that the supreme court upheld an appeals court decision in January overturning the sentence issued against the ruling family member.

Sheikh Ahmad, who is president of the Association of National Olympic Committees and Olympic Council of Asia and sits on the FIFA Council , was in January acquitted on charges of insulting the judiciary.

He was given a six-month prison sentence in Kuwait in December after being convicted of disobeying a gag order by discussing a video involving a purported plot to overthrow the government. Sheikh Ahmad, who is a nephew of Kuwaiti ruler Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, denied any wrongdoing.

Kuwait’s government had filed a separate lawsuit against Sheikh Ahmad, his brother Sheikh Talal and 13 other officials, over Kuwait’s current isolation from international sport.

In October, Kuwait was suspended by FIFA and the International Olympic Committee for apparent government interference in the running of sport in the country.

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