The sport’s governing body says it has repeatedly attempted to align the KHA statues with those of the IHF over the past eight years and has been unsuccessful, prompting them to impose a suspension on the National Federation.

KHA’s non-recognised Board of Directors were not able to arrange a General Assembly, which forced the IHF to establish an Interim Committee, backed by the Kuwait Olympic Committee and Asian Handball Federation.

But the organisation’s former President refused to hand the Federation over to the Interim Committee, and after the Public Authority for Youth and Sports in Kuwait did not react to the IHF request for intervention, the IHF say they were left with no choice but to act.

The decision means the KHA will be suspended with immediate effect and their teams will not be allowed to participate in any events at national or international level.

Players, coaches, referees, officials and clubs involved with the KHA are all included in the suspension, which has been imposed by the IHF Council.

Kuwait are considered one of the handball powerhouses in Asia and they took gold at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, which followed two second place finishes in Bangkok in 1998 and Busan four years later.

They have claimed the Asian Championships crown on four separate occasions, topping the podium on home soil in 1995 before securing three successive titles from 2002 to 2006.

Kuwait have also twice competed at the Olympic Games, finishing 12th at the 1980 event and also at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.