International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach warned the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran (NOCIRI) today (Saturday), following a series of incidents with athletes in the country.
The Olympic Committee convened a meeting with the Iranian committee at its headquarters in Lausanne, where "intense discussions" took place about the situation facing Iranian athletes.
Only a month ago, the national karate champion Muhammad Mahdi Karami, was among four men who were executed for their involvement in protests against the regime.
The president of the Iranian committee, Mahmoud Khosrabi Vafa, traveled to the Swiss city where he held talks with Bach, where he was required to ensure "full observance" of the Olympic Charter, after expressing "grave concerns" about the athletes' well-being.
"The President of the Olympic Committee expressed the serious concerns regarding the humanitarian situation of a number of athletes, and the financial guarantees that athletes and teams must provide to their national federations before traveling abroad to participate in international sports competitions," the IOC said in a statement.
In September 2020, the wrestler Navid Afkari was executed, for allegedly stabbing to death a security guard and for his involvement in the protests against the regime in the country in 2018.
At the time of Afkari's death, Bach claimed that he was "very concerned" about the case, but felt that the Iranian committee was "doing its utmost to facilitate a solution."
Recently there have also been safety concerns about female athletes choosing not to wear the hijab in international competitions.
According to reports, chess player Sara Khadem arrived in Spain after being told not to return home, after being photographed without a head covering - which is mandatory under Iran's strict dress code.
The sport climber Alanz Rakbi also competed without a hijab during the Asian Championships in the South Korean capital of Seoul in November 2022, and there were fears for her safety.
A few months ago the regime destroyed her house.
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