Several athletes who participated in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have been reported missing after failing to return home with their respective national teams following the conclusion of the tournament.
Police Scotland confirmed that it has received reports of several athletes who are unaccounted for and said investigations are currently underway.
In a statement, 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.”
Ugandan media reported that four members of the country’s boxing team — Nuhu Batte, Angel Katushabe, Ibrahim Kemis, and Emily Nakalema — did not board their scheduled flight home. According to NBS Sport, a member of the Ugandan delegation alleged that the athletes intended to seek asylum in Scotland. However, UK authorities have not confirmed the claim.
In a separate incident, Pakistan Today reported that Pakistani boxer Qudrat Ullah also failed to return with his national team. Team officials reportedly discovered he was missing after he was not be found in his hotel room before the delegation’s departure.
The reported disappearances have revived memories of similar incidents following previous editions of the Commonwealth Games. After the 2014 Games, which were also hosted in Glasgow, several athletes reportedly remained in the United Kingdom instead of returning to their home countries, with some later seeking asylum.
Authorities have not disclosed the whereabouts of the missing athletes, and investigations into the incidents remain ongoing.
