IOC has athletes ‘flabbergasted’ over Iran’s – Sports News
Seven Olympians from a number of nations have rounded on the International Olympic Committee after it declined to sentence Iran for the public execution of 19-year-old wrestler Saleh Mohammadi, with one gold medalist describing herself as “flabbergasted” by the group’s response.
Human rights teams raised severe considerations concerning the course of, pointing to a fast-tracked trial and allegations that Mohammadi’s confession was extracted underneath torture. Amnesty International reported that Mohammadi informed the courtroom he had confessed “under torture and other ill-treatment.”
He was 19 years outdated, had received a bronze medal at an worldwide wrestling competitors as not too long ago as September 2024, and had informed Iranian state broadcasting that his dream was to grow to be an Olympic champion.
The IOC’s response drew fast criticism. In a assertion, the group stated it was “very difficult to comment on situations of individuals during a conflict or unrest in a country without the IOC being able to verify the often contradicting information,” including that as a “civil, non-governmental organisation,” it had “neither the remit nor the ability to change the laws or political system of a sovereign country.”
The IOC stated it could proceed to work by means of “quiet sports diplomacy” and confirmed it stood by the assertion when approached for additional remark.
That place was met with fury from throughout the Olympic neighborhood. Three-time US Olympic gold medal swimmer Nancy Hogshead was among the many most direct. “I’m flabbergasted that the IOC could not denounce the murder of a teenage wrestler in Iran,” she stated.
“The governing organizations of the Olympics are non-political, but denouncing the murder of an athlete for political purposes is not political — it is just doing the right thing. Olympians deserve better.”
US gold medal swimmer Tyler Clary dismissed the IOC’s reasoning completely. “The IOC’s statement reads like corporate damage control, not moral leadership,” he stated. “Hiding behind neutrality and bureaucracy isn’t leadership, it’s avoidance. The IOC says it doesn’t have the authority to influence sovereign nations, but it has never hesitated to take strong positions when it suits its interests.”
Polish gold medalist Maciej Czyzowicz known as for Iran to be banned from the Olympic Games. “If the IOC is unable to stand up for the life of an innocent teenage athlete, it has completely lost all moral credibility,” he stated.
US shooter Keith Sanderson was equally unsparing. “This is beyond the pale. If the IOC wants to show any shred of morality or credibility, they should denounce this murder and impose sanctions on Iran until their leadership changes or they apologize for this brutal execution.”
Mohammadi’s execution drew fast comparisons to the 2020 killing of wrestler Navid Afkari, who was executed after being convicted of murdering a security guard during the 2018 protests. Iran executed more than 2,000 people in 2025, probably the most in a single 12 months since 1989.
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