British athletes will have to sign a contract pledging not to speak out on politics or human rights in China to be able to take part in this year's Beijing Olympics, the British Olympic Association (BOA) said on Sunday.
To be a member of the British team, athletes will have to agree to a contract stating that they "are not to comment on any politically sensitive issues" involving the host country, BOA spokesman Graham Newsom said.
The Mail on Sunday newspaper said the contract effectively gags athletes from speaking out about issues such as politics, human rights or Beijing's rule of Tibet.
The proposed wording of the contract could still be changed, he said. "If there is a feeling that that doesn't reflect what we are after, we will consider the wording," he said.