Russia says US barring its wrestlers from Iowa competition

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MOSCOW (AP) The Russian Foreign Ministry has accused the United States of trying to bar Russian wrestlers from an upcoming competition and claims the U.S. is unfit to host international sports events.

The ministry says the U.S. embassy in Moscow refused to arrange visa interviews for the Russian team ahead of the freestyle wrestling World Cup, which starts April 5 in Iowa City, Iowa.

Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says in a statement that the alleged visa refusal is ''direct and open discrimination,'' adding that ''it's clearly impossible to hold international competitions on American territory any more - they don't play fair.''

The wrestling World Cup is an eight-team tournament which serves as the first major global competition of the season.