ATLANTA — Looking to get stronger, Kulsoom Abdullah took up weightlifting a couple of years ago. She quickly grew to love the male-dominated sport, entering local competitions and even allowing herself to dream of one day making it to the Olympics.
She’d like to see how far this passion might take her, but not if it means compromising her religious beliefs.
Seems perfectly reasonable.
Yet Abdullah, a 35-year-old Atlantan, has been barred from entering the U.S. senior nationals in Iowa next month. The problem: Her Muslim faith requires that she cover her arms, legs and head — which violates international rules governing weightlifting attire.
