The Ministry of Youth and Sports has decided to refer the incident of wrestler Muhammad Mustafa Al-Shami fleeing during the transit of the Egyptian wrestling delegation in Rome to the Public Prosecution to take whatever legal measures it deems appropriate. Similarly, the incident of wrestler Ziad Haggag fleeing during the World Youth Wrestling Championship in Slovakia has also been referred to the Public Prosecution.
In an official statement, the Ministry of Youth and Sports indicated that this step affirms that sporting achievement does not exempt one from responsibility, and that representing Egypt in international forums is linked to full compliance with regulations and rules.
The Egyptian Olympic Committee had previously decided to suspend Ibrahim Adel El-Attar, head of the wrestling delegation at the Mediterranean Games, and refer him to the Ethics Committee, following the incident of wrestler Muhammad Mustafa Al-Shami fleeing during the transit of the wrestling delegation in Rome, on the return journey to Cairo after the conclusion of the Mediterranean Games.
This makes Muhammad Mustafa Al-Shami the second wrestler to flee from the Egyptian delegation in two different championships within less than three days.
The statement from the Ministry of Youth and Sports read as follows:
"In a step that affirms that sporting achievement does not exempt one from responsibility, and that representing Egypt in international forums is linked to full compliance with regulations and rules, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has decided to refer the incident of wrestler Muhammad Mustafa Ali Al-Shami fleeing during the transit of the Egyptian wrestling delegation in Rome to the Public Prosecution to take whatever legal measures it deems appropriate. Similarly, the incident of wrestler Ziad Haggag fleeing during the World Youth Wrestling Championship in Slovakia has been referred to the Public Prosecution.
These measures come in light of the Ministry's commitment to dealing decisively with any incidents that affect the regularity of Egyptian delegations during their external participation, and to determining legal and administrative responsibilities, while emphasizing that the results of investigations should not be anticipated or pre-judgments issued against any party.
The Egyptian Olympic Committee had decided to suspend Ibrahim Adel El-Attar, head of the wrestling delegation, and refer him to the Ethics Committee, after preliminary investigations revealed negligence, carelessness, and failure to follow up on one of the delegation members.
The details of Al-Shami's incident date back to the wrestling delegation leaving Taranto Airport for Rome with all its members, before stopping for a transit to complete the return journey to Cairo. During the transit, the head of the delegation was required to keep the delegation's passports in his possession, which he failed to do. Before the player's coach noticed his absence and attempted to catch up with him, but the attempt was unsuccessful. The coach was forced to miss the flight, while Al-Shami managed to leave the delegation's vicinity.
As for the incident involving Ziad Haggag, the Ministry of Youth and Sports had previously directed the Egyptian Wrestling Federation to take legal measures, investigate the incident, and prepare and submit a detailed report to the Ministry regarding the circumstances of the player's flight during his participation in the World Youth Championship in Slovakia, before the incident was referred to the Public Prosecution.
At the same time, the Ministry emphasizes that these incidents do not diminish the great sporting achievement accomplished by Egyptian wrestling at the Mediterranean Games, after successfully winning seven medals: two gold medals for Samer Hamza and Muhammad Hassan, two silver medals for Muhammad Farag and Abdel Rahman Haitham, and three bronze medals for Mouda Badawi, Mustafa Hussein, and Shahab Al-Din Abdel Raouf, while Al-Shami was eliminated in the preliminary rounds.
Here, the Ministry sets the matter in its proper context:
The wrestling achievement is credited to its champions, and those responsible for negligence will be held accountable.
Medals must not become a cover that obscures any malfunction, nor should an individual incident become a judgment on an entire delegation that created an achievement worthy of praise.
Representing Egypt is a responsibility before it is an honor. A sports delegation is a system with rules and responsibilities, and everyone who holds an administrative position within it bears their full duty, during competitions and after their conclusion, until the last member returns to the homeland.
Seven medals created the joy of Egyptian wrestling in Taranto, and two incidents clouded the scene, but the most important message came clearly:
Achievement does not protect negligence, a medal does not exempt one from responsibility, and the law alone determines where responsibility begins and where it ends."
