L'Orient Today

Athlete Noureddine Hadid has been barred from participating in the World Athletic Championships in the United States after his visa was declined. Hadid was denied a visa despite having an invitation from the American and the international federation of World Athletics. He said his visa was denied on the spot as it lacked documents proving that he was willing to return to his country after the championship ended. Hadid has a track record of successfully representing Lebanon abroad in championships in Qatar, South Korea, and in Japan for the Summer Olympics. Lebanon is notorious for having one of the weakest passports in the world, not to mention one of the most expensive up until the recent economic crisis.