Gambia Olympic committee trio cleared of theft

Three Gambian Olympic Committee officials have been cleared by a court of stealing $1,300 from the national body.

Beatrice Allen, an IOC member since 2006 and vice president of the Gambian committee, treasurer Ousman Wadda and accountant Muhammed Janneh were acquitted of theft Monday.

The judge said the prosecution had failed to prove its case.

The defendants denied the charges, claiming they were targeted because they intended to report financial mismanagement within the Olympic body.

They were cleared of taking money meant as allowances for Gambia's jailed former Olympic committee president and army chief, who was detained for alleged involvement in a 2009 coup to overthrow the tiny West African country's government.