London 2012 Olympics: Saudi Arabia 'reverses pledge' to send female athletes to the Games Saudi leaders have been under pressure to end the practice of sending all-male teams to international competitions and they had previously announced that they were open to women competing at the Olympics for the first time. However, a report in a Saudi-owned newspaper this week said no female athletes have qualified for the Olympics and no women will be included on the team which will compete in equestrian, athletics, and weightlifting. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee says it remains "confident of a positive outcome" regarding the situation. In June, Telegraph Sport reported that show jumper Dalma Rushdi Malhas, Saudi Arabia's best hope of female representation at the London Games, would not compete in the Olympics after failing to meet the minimum competence standard. Mulhas had bought a new horse, Caramell KS, in December for a possible bid to qualify for the Games, but only managed to jump one clear round in seven attempts at the minimum three-star qualifying level this spring. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, only Qatar, Brunei and Saudi Arabia fielded all-male teams. This year, Qatar and Brunei have confirmed they will send female athletes as part of their teams for the first time. The recent reports in Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat Arabia suggest Saudi Arabia has gone back on its decision to join those countries in fielding a mixed team. Human Rights Watch is urging the IOC to bar Saudi Arabia from participating in the Games for violating the equality rules in the Olympic Charter.