The IOC has postponed accepting four elected athletes as new members after Japan appealed its candidate's exclusion for campaigning too hard at the London Games.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said ``legal issues'' prevented the new athletes' representatives from joining on Sunday.

Rogge says ``there is no doubt that rules were infringed,'' prompting the IOC to remove Japanese hammer thrower Koji Murofushi and Taiwanese taekwondo fighter Chu Mu-yen from the contest.

Both placed in the top four among 21 candidates seeking 8-year terms as IOC members.

Japan Olympic officials have formally challenged Murofushi's exclusion. Taiwan did not appeal. Almost 7,000 athletes voted, comprising 64 percent of London Games participants. (AP)