Saudi Arabia reportedly not sending women to 2012 Olympics

A Saudi Arabian newspaper says the ultraconservative kingdom will not send women to the London Olympics, weeks after saying it would.

Al-Watan newspaper reports that Saudi Olympic Committee President Prince Nawaf bin Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud says he does "not approve" of sending female athletes for the first time to the Olympics. But he left room for Saudi women to possibly compete on their own outside the official delegation, a plan that may not satisfy demands by the International Olympic Committee.

A similar arrangement was made at the Youth Olympics in 2010 for Saudi equestrian competitor Dalma Rushdi Malhas. She won a bronze medal in show jumping.

Officials at the Saudi Olympic Committee could not be reached for comment.