The Egyptian Olympic Committee decided to suspend Ibrahim Adel Ibrahim Mostafa El-Attar, head of the wrestling delegation, and refer him to the Ethics Committee, following the incident of wrestler Mohamed Mostafa Ali El-Shami fleeing during the wrestling delegation's transit in Rome, on the return journey to Cairo after the conclusion of the Mediterranean Games.
According to a statement from the Olympic Committee, the decision was made in light of the preliminary investigations conducted by the Committee, which revealed negligence, carelessness, and shortcomings in monitoring the delegation members, necessitating the holding of the delegation head administratively responsible in accordance with the regulations governing delegations.
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The statement continued: "The details of the incident trace back to the wrestling delegation departing from Taranto Airport to Rome with all its members, before stopping for a transit to complete the return journey. During the transit, the delegation head was required to keep the delegation's passports in his possession, which he failed to do."
It added: "When the player's coach noticed his disappearance, he attempted to catch up with him, but the attempt was unsuccessful, and the coach was forced to miss the flight, while the player managed to escape. At this point, the Olympic Committee intervened; because the player's escape was an individual decision, but monitoring delegation members is an administrative responsibility. The referral to the Ethics Committee does not constitute a final judgment, but rather a procedure for investigation and completing the determination of responsibilities in accordance with the regulations."
The statement continued: "However, before this incident clouded the return journey, Egyptian wrestling had achieved a remarkable feat in Taranto, winning 7 medals:
Two golds: Samah Hamza and Mohamed Hassan.
Two silvers: Mohamed Farag and Abdel Rahman Haitham.
Three bronzes: Mouda Badawi, Mostafa Hussein, and Shahab El-Din Abdel Raouf. Meanwhile, El-Shami was eliminated in the preliminary rounds.
It concluded: "Seven medals say that Egyptian wrestling was strongly present on the mat, and its participation should not be reduced to a regrettable incident that occurred during the return. Here, the positive aspect of the Olympic decision appears: no leniency for mistakes due to achievement, and no injustice to achievement due to mistakes. The medal-winning players have the right to celebrate, and the administrative official has the duty of accountability. Wrestling returned with seven medals.. and the Olympic Committee said that the medal is honored, the negligence is accounted for, and responsibility is not lost."