Tue Nov 10, 10:22 AM ET

FILE -- This is a Feb. 27, 2009, file photo showing Iraq's Faisal Faisal starting his first run during the men's Skeleton World Championships in Lake Placid, N.Y. Faisal Faisal is a promising skeleton racer with an outside shot of making the Vancouver Games. He speaks perfect English, is popular with plenty of racers from other nations, even has worked with 2002 Olympic gold medalist Jim Shea on honing his craft. Oh, one more thing: He's from the winter-sports hotbed of Iraq. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)

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