Athletes go ‘MISSING’ after Commonwealth Games ends

Several athletes have disappeared after competing in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, failing to return home with the rest of their teams

Police Scotland said it had received reports of various athletes “unaccounted for” in the aftermath of the Games, which concluded on Sunday.

The sports website NBS Sport said four members of the Ugandan boxing squad had not turned up to fly home, adding that one member of the team had told the website the athletes intended to seek asylum in Scotland.

Pakistan Today also reported that the boxer Qudratullah had not joined the rest of his team mates in flying home to Pakistan, and that he was not found in his room when officials went to search for him.

Following previous Commonwealth Games – including the 2014 edition also held in Glasgow – dozens of athletes went missing in the aftermath, either going on to claim asylum or simply disappearing entirely.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police Scotland has received reports of several athletes who are unaccounted for.

“Inquiries are ongoing to assess the circumstances, and early engagement is taking place with the Home Office.”

The four missing boxers in Uganda were named by local media as Nuhu Batte, Angel Katushabe, Ibrahim Kemis and Emily Nakalema.

NBS Sports said it had spoken to one of the four missing boxers, who claimed the athletes intended to seek asylum and continue their boxing careers in a country they believed offered better training facilities and opportunities than their homeland.

The boxer was said to have appealed to Ugandans for understanding and asked not to be judged for the decision.

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