MEXICO CITY — A dispute between Mexico’s government and the nation’s sports federations over how public money is spent and how athletes will be selected for the 2016 Olympics could result in Mexico’s being barred from participating as a team at the Games.
Mexico’s Olympic committee and the national sports commission have traded allegations in recent days as the case heads to the International Olympic Committee, which, if it perceives political meddling, could take the rare step of barring the nation.
Athletes could still compete and march under the I.O.C. banner but would not hear their national anthem at the winners’ podium or otherwise participate as a team.