By Paris, France – In a troubling incident that has shocked the Olympic community, French authorities arrested anpar Egyptian Olympic wrestler in the early hours of Friday on suspicion of sexual assault.
The arrest took place outside a café in Paris, where the athlete had been spending time, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office.
The wrestler, who has been identified as Mohamed Elsayed by the Egyptian delegation, allegedly touched the buttocks of another customer at the café.
French prosecutors have confirmed that an investigation into the allegations has been opened, and the case is being treated with the seriousness it demands.
While the French authorities initially withheld the name of the wrestler, the Egyptian Olympic Committee later confirmed that the individual in question is Mohamed Elsayed, a Greco-Roman wrestler who previously won a bronze medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Elsayed had recently competed in the 67 kg Greco-Roman wrestling category at the Paris 2024 Olympics but was eliminated in the early stages. On Wednesday, he was defeated by Azerbaijan’s Hasrat Jafarov, who went on to win the bronze medal in the event.
The Egyptian Olympic Committee has announced that Elsayed will face a disciplinary hearing upon his return to Egypt.
The committee released a statement indicating that if the allegations against Elsayed are proven to be true, he could face severe sanctions, including a potential lifetime ban from competition. “The seriousness of these accusations cannot be overstated, and if confirmed, the penalties will be severe,” the committee’s statement read.
In the hours leading up to the incident, Elsayed had been granted permission to watch the final wrestling match of his weight category.
However, he failed to return to the mission headquarters as instructed and turned off his phone, according to the Egyptian Olympic Committee. This behavior raised concerns among team officials, who were unable to contact him.
French media outlets, including Le Parisien, have reported that Elsayed was “roaring drunk” at the time of the alleged assault. Following his arrest, Elsayed was taken into custody at the 13th arrondissement police station, where he remains as the investigation continues.
The incident has cast a shadow over the Olympic Games in Paris, particularly as the world’s attention is focused on the event’s celebration of athletic excellence and international unity. The Egyptian delegation is reportedly cooperating with French authorities as the investigation unfolds, though no further comments have been made by either party.
This case has not only caused a stir in the sporting community but also highlighted the importance of athlete conduct both on and off the field.
The outcome of the investigation and the subsequent disciplinary actions will likely have significant repercussions for Mohamed Elsayed’s career and for the Egyptian Olympic team as a whole.
