Wrestler Mohamed Mostafa Al-Shami explained the reason for his escape from the Egyptian wrestling team delegation in Rome.
Al-Shami wrote on his Instagram account: "I apologize to my father and my family for everything that happened, and I never wanted to reach this stage. Wrestling has been and still is a huge part of my life; I started practicing it when I was 7 years old, and I spent many years dreaming of raising the Egyptian flag and achieving an accomplishment that everyone will remember."
"Praise be to God, I was able to raise my country's flag in African championships and many international tournaments. My biggest dream was to win an Olympic medal and reach the highest possible position in the sport I loved and lived my whole life for."
"But at a certain point, I felt that my father was becoming tired and that life had become difficult for him. As I am the eldest of my siblings, someone had to make a sacrifice and take on the responsibility."
"I apologize again to my father and my family, and I apologize to everyone who stood by my side, helped me, and supported me on my journey. I will never forget anyone's support for me, but against my will, I found myself having grown up and no longer knowing how to ask my father for anything. The support I receive does not enable me to live a dignified life, and I need to secure my own future and life, which is not currently available."
"It had to happen because, God forbid, if I were to suffer an injury or stop practicing wrestling, I would not find support after all the achievements I have accomplished. The path may have changed, and the dream may have been postponed, but the dream itself still exists."
"God willing, I will return to complete my journey, raise my country's flag again, and try to achieve the dream I have not yet been able to realize. By a simple calculation, if I continue for another 15 years in the same position I am in now, I will not even be able to buy an apartment to get married in."
The Ministry of Youth and Sports decided to refer the incident of wrestler Mohamed Mostafa Al-Shami's escape 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's escape during the World Youth Wrestling Championship in Slovakia was also referred to the Public Prosecution.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports stated in an official statement that this is a step confirming that athletic 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 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 Mohamed Mostafa Al-Shami's escape during the transit of the wrestling delegation in Rome, on the return trip to Cairo after the conclusion of the Mediterranean Games.
This makes Mohamed Mostafa Al-Shami the second wrestler to escape from the Egyptian delegation in two different championships within less than 3 days.
The statement from the Ministry of Youth and Sports read as follows:
"In a step confirming that athletic 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 decided to refer the incident of wrestler Mohamed Mostafa Ali Al-Shami's escape 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's escape during the World Youth Wrestling Championship in Slovakia was also referred to the Public Prosecution.
These measures come in light of the Ministry's concern to deal decisively with any incidents that affect the regularity of Egyptian delegations during their external participations, and to determine legal and administrative responsibilities, while emphasizing not to preempt the results of investigations or issue pre-judgments 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 shortcoming in monitoring 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 trip 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 tried 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 escape 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 athletic achievement accomplished by Egyptian wrestling at the Mediterranean Games, after it successfully won seven medals: two golds for Samer Hamza and Mohamed Hassan, two silvers for Mohamed Farag and Abdel Rahman Heitham, and three bronzes for Mouda Badawi, Mostafa Hussein, and Shahab El-Din Abdel Raouf, while Al-Shami was eliminated in the preliminary rounds.
Here, the Ministry puts things in their proper place:
Wrestling's achievement is credited to its champions, and those responsible for shortcomings will be held accountable.
Medals must not become a cover that obscures any flaws, 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 they end, 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 against shortcomings, a medal does not exempt one from responsibility, and the law alone determines where responsibility begins and where it ends."
