Qatar women's team forfeits Asian Games match after hijab disallowed

FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014 file photo, Soraya Aghaeihajiagha of Iran returns the shuttlecock against Khulangoo Bataar of Mongolia during their wonen's singles badminton match at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. The Qatar women's basketball team forfeited its Asian Games match against Mongolia after players were refused permission to wear a hijab. Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee spokeswoman Anna Jihyun You told The Associated Press on Wednesday, Sept. 24, that the players "had refused to take off the hijab" and the match was awarded to the opposition. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - IN this Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014 file photo, Kuwait's Karam Altaf competes in women's singles squad A bowling competition at Anyang Hogye Gymnasium at the 17th Asian Games in Anyang, South Korea. The Qatar women's basketball team forfeited its Asian Games match against Mongolia after players were refused permission to wear a hijab. Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee spokeswoman Anna Jihyun You told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the players "had refused to take off the hijab" and the match was awarded to the opposition. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File) (The Associated Press)

A score board shows the start list of Nepal and Qatar team members for the women's preliminary round basketball match at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014. Qatar's delegation chief says the women's basketball team has withdrawn from the Asian Games after organizers refused to let players wear hijabs in competition. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) (The Associated Press)

The Qatar women's basketball team forfeited its Asian Games match against Mongolia after players were refused permission to wear a hijab.

Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee spokeswoman Anna Jihyun You told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the players "had refused to take off the hijab" and the match was awarded to the opposition.

You said the sport's world governing body, FIBA, "did not provide any instructions" on any moves to relax regulations to the match officials, who quoted regulations that prohibit the use of headgear, hair accessories and jewelry in international competition.

FIBA earlier this month announced it was launching a two-year trial phase allowing players to wear head coverings, after seeking permission, and in domestic competitions.