East Germany Reportedly Refuses to Allow Defector to Compete for U.S.

East Germany reportedly has refused to grant Jens-Peter Berndt, a swimmer at the University of Alabama, permission to compete for the United States in the 1988 Olympics.

Berndt, a defector from East Germany, is seeking two requirements--U.S. citizenship and a waiver from the East German government--that would allow him to represent the United States at Seoul, South Korea. So far he has gotten neither.

Ron Rowan of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s general counsel said that East Germany traditionally has refused to grant waivers to defectors and said that Berndt’s case probably will be no different.

In Washington, the House Judiciary committee passed a bill Thursday to give Berndt expedited citizenship but a committee member, James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), said he would block House consideration until Berndt gets permission from East Germany.

Berndt, 25, defected at the Oklahoma City airport in 1985 while on a tour with the East German team.