KUWAIT CITY: A lawyer for Kuwaiti sports powerbroker Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah says the country's supreme court has upheld a lower court ruling clearing him of violating a gag order in a case about an alleged coup.

Lawyer Ali al-Rasheedi told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the supreme court upheld an appeals court decision in January overturning a six-month prison sentence issued against the ruling family member late Monday.

Sheikh Ahmad heads the Association of National Olympic Committees and sits on FIFA's executive committee.

He was initially convicted in December of disobeying a gag order by discussing a video involving a purported plot to overthrow the government. He had earlier apologized on state television, saying he was "misinformed" about the plot.