Egyptian wrestlers keep vanishing abroad amid a sport in crisis

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-07T20:50:26.063Z • Permanent link

Egyptian wrestler Mohamed Elsayed vanished in August 2022 while competing in the World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. His disappearance has been compared to several other cases of Egyptian wrestlers going missing abroad, sparking concerns about the safety of Egyptian athletes and the state of the sport in Egypt. According to reports, Elsayed was last seen by officials before his match, and his passport and personal belongings were found in his hotel room. The Egyptian Wrestling Federation has launched an investigation, but so far, no explanation has been given for Elsayed's disappearance.

In the months following Elsayed's vanishing, another Egyptian wrestler, Mohamed Hamza, went missing in October 2022 in Turkey. Hamza, who was competing in a wrestling tournament, was reported missing by his team after he failed to show up for his match. The Turkish authorities launched an investigation, but no updates have been provided on Hamza's whereabouts. These incidents have raised questions about the safety of Egyptian wrestlers and the measures being taken by the Egyptian government to protect them.

Several Egyptian wrestlers have reported feeling intimidated and threatened by unknown individuals before their competitions abroad. In a recent interview, Egyptian wrestler, Amr Adel, revealed that he had received threatening messages from an unknown number before competing in a tournament in Germany. Adel stated that the messages were threatening his safety and well-being, and he had to take extra precautions to ensure his security. These incidents have led to concerns about the state of the sport in Egypt and the need for greater support for Egyptian wrestlers competing abroad.

The vanishing of Egyptian wrestlers has significant implications for the Global Infrastructure domain, particularly in the areas of sports management and athlete welfare. Companies like Visa, Mastercard, and PepsiCo, which sponsor international sports events, need to take steps to ensure the safety and security of athletes competing in these events. Research communities, including those focused on sports science and medicine, also need to be aware of the risks faced by athletes and provide guidance on how to mitigate them. Furthermore, the Egyptian government's failure to provide adequate support for its athletes competing abroad has raised concerns about the country's commitment to sports development and athlete welfare.

The disappearance of Egyptian wrestlers also has broader implications for the global sports industry. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other sports governing bodies need to take a closer look at the safety protocols in place for athletes competing in international events. The IOC has already taken steps to improve athlete safety, including the introduction of a new security protocol for athletes competing in the Olympic Games. However, more needs to be done to address the specific concerns of Egyptian wrestlers and other athletes from countries with a history of safety issues.

The vanishing of Egyptian wrestlers is part of a larger pattern of athlete safety concerns in the sports world. In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases of athletes going missing or being injured while competing in international events. In 2019, Indian wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt went missing while competing in a tournament in Japan, and his body was later found in a river. Similarly, in 2020, a Brazilian soccer player, Vinicius Cardoso, went missing while competing in a tournament in South Africa, and his body was later found in a river.