Weightlifter Kulsoom Abdullah was on the brink of qualifiying for the American Open tournament last year when she was eliminated. It was not her training regimen, muscle strength or weight that kept her from competing. It was her clothes.

After qualifying for a national tournament, the computer engineer with a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech was told she could not compete because the modest athletic attire she wears to comply with her Muslim faith might be dangerous or give her an unfair advantage because the long sleeve garment would prevent judges from seeing if her elbows were locked.