.jpg)
Kosovo's karate team have been barred from entering Serbia to compete at the European Championships in Novi Sad.
The delegation were prevented from crossing the border in Merdare and were turned away by police amid the ongoing political tension between the two countries after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
Serbia's Government had earlier warned that the Kosovan would not be able to display any national symbols during the event ending on Sunday (May 13).
According to Serbian media, the decision not to allow the Kosovan athletes, coaches and staff to cross the border was made because they were carrying symbols which Belgrade does not recognise.
It has also been claimed that Kosovo had not respected the agreed procedures for official visits to Serbia.
Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj reacted angrily to the Serbian authorities, on Facebook that denying the team entry to participate at the Championships was an "unacceptable act that does not contribute to the normalisation of relations between our two states".
The decision risks the intervention of sporting bodies who have warned countries not to ban athletes from competing for political reasons.
Last month, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach called on sport to "show its teeth" by taking action to combat cases of countries restricting the way other nations participate at events on political grounds.
It followed a series of recent troubles involving the participation of Israel at events in Islamic countries, and of Kosovo at events in Serbia.
The incident marks the latest sporting dispute involving Serbia and Kosovo.
Serbia has continually opposed Kosovo being accepted as members of International Federations, including those for athletics and football.
Spain was recently stripped of the 2018 Junior and Under-23 Weightlifting Championships because of the country's political stance on Kosovo.
Kosovo became part of the IOC in 2014 and made their Olympic debut at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
