NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
A coalition of seven Olympians across several countries, including three gold medalists, has come forward to condemn the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for its response to the execution of Iranian wrestler Saleh Mohammadi.
After Mohammadi was reportedly hanged in public last week, the IOC released a statement saying: “It is very difficult to comment on situations of individuals during a conflict or unrest in a country without the IOC being able to verify the often conflicting information…
“The IOC, as a civilian, non-governmental organization, has neither the mandate nor the ability to change the laws or the political system of a sovereign country.”
Now the seven Olympians are sharing their objections to the IOC not condemning Iran for the execution.
The IOC told Pakinomist Digital it stood by its original statement.
Nancy Hogshead, three-time US Olympic gold medalist swimmer
Women’s Sports Foundation Senior Director of Advocacy Nancy Hogshead attends the 40 For 40 Event, 40 Years of Title IX, 40 Women Who Have Made an Impact, at the JW Marriott Hotel on June 21, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for WICT)
“I’m amazed that the IOC could not condemn the murder of a teenage wrestler in Iran. The governing bodies of the Olympics are non-political, but to condemn the murder of an athlete for political purposes is not political… it’s just doing the right thing,” Hogshead told Pakinomist Digital.
“Olympians deserve better. The IOC can and should stand against the execution of athletes by violent regimes for political purposes.”
Tyler Clary, American gold medalist swimmer at London 2012
American swimmer Tyler Clary celebrates winning gold in the men’s 200m backstroke final at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 2, 2012 in London. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP)
“The IOC’s statement reads like corporate damage control, not moral leadership,” Clary told Pakinomist Digital.
“Hiding behind neutrality and bureaucracy is not leadership, it is avoidance. The IOC says it has no authority to influence sovereign nations, but it has never hesitated to take strong positions when it suits its interests. To suddenly claim impartiality when an athlete is killed shows a lack of backbone and an inability to stand up for the Olympic movement.”
Maciej Czyzowicz, Polish Olympic gold medal pentathlon at Barcelona 1992
Poland Pentathalon gold medalist Maciej Czyzowicz (Courtesy of Maciej Czyzowicz)
“The International Olympic Committee’s lack of action and determination is outrageous. Iran should be banned from the Olympic Games for its behavior unless the regime is overthrown and new leadership comes to power,” Czyzowicz told Pakinomist Digital.
“If the IOC is unable to stand up for the life of an innocent teenage athlete, it has completely lost all moral credibility. With this statement, they showed that they do not care if any of the Olympic Movement countries violate human and civil rights.”
Keith Sanderson, American Olympic shooter, four-time Olympian
Keith Sanderson on Day 7 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at The Royal Artillery Barracks on August 3, 2012 in London, England. (Lars Baron/Getty Images)
“This is kind of par for the course with the IOC. They’re enriching themselves at the expense of athletes and can’t even stand up and say that any regime, including Iran, murdering a teenage athlete is categorically wrong,” Sanderson told Pakinomist Digital.
“The IOC has been known to be corrupt for years, but this is beyond the pale. If the IOC wants to show any shred of morality or credibility, they should condemn this murder and impose sanctions on Iran until their leadership changes or they apologize for this brutal execution.”
Ruben Gonzalez, Argentine Olympic luge athlete, four-time Olympian
Ruben Gonzalez of Argentina after finishing the final run of the men’s singles final on Day 3 of the 2010 Winter Olympics at the Whistler Sliding Center on February 14, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
“The IOC’s refusal to speak out against Iran for killing the teenage wrestler is shameful. But that’s how they’ve always been. All they care about is themselves,” Gonzalez told Pakinomist Digital. “As far as the IOC is concerned, the athletes are simply pawns that allow them to profit. Time and time again, it has put its own interests ahead of the athletes it claims to represent. If the IOC has any integrity left, it should publicly condemn the action and take decisive action against Iran.”
Katie Uhlaender, American skeleton athlete, five-time Olympian
Team USA skeleton hopeful Katie Uhlaender poses for a photo during the 2018 US Olympic Team Media Summit at the Grand Summit Hotel on September 25, 2017. (Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports)
“The IOC’s claim that they are just a ‘civilian organization’ is a convenient excuse for inaction. They used it to evade responsibility for the Russian state-sponsored doping crisis, and they are now using it for the safety of Iranian athletes. Whether it is doping in China, competition manipulation in Canada, or the stolen moments of American2 skaters in the pattern202, I cannot protect the same skaters in the pattern202: make the games possible,” Uhlaender told Pakinomist Digital.
“If the IOC insists that athlete protection is a state responsibility, then the United States has an opportunity to lead by example as it heads into LA 2028. It’s time to stop waiting and start setting the standard for athlete safety and integrity ourselves.”
Eli Bremer, American modern pentathlon at Beijing 2008
Eli Bremer of the United States celebrates in the Men’s Modern Pentathlon Epee One Touch held at the Fencing Hall during Day 13 of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 21, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)
“I’ve believed the IOC to be morally bankrupt for years and thus didn’t have very high expectations for them. That said, I assumed the murder of a teenage athlete from his own country would be something even the IOC could find out and condemn,” Bremer told Pakinomist Digital.
“The fact that they can’t come out and say that Iran’s murder of this teenager who had become a national icon is wrong just confirms how completely out of touch this organization is. I think sports organizations in general should stay out of politics. But they can and should stand on basic humanity and say that murdering athletes is wrong. The fact that the IOC can’t do this says a lot about them.”
Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston, Iranian-born Team USA Rio 2016 Olympic women’s wrestling coach
“As an Iranian-born world-class athlete, coach and pioneer of women’s wrestling, I am deeply disappointed by the International Olympic Committee’s recent statement regarding the execution of 19-year-old youth wrestler, Saleh Mohammadi,” Johnston told Pakinomist Digital.
“By framing its role as a ‘non-governmental organization’ without the power to influence national affairs, the IOC steps away from the very principles of the Olympic Charter. The Charter aims to promote a ‘peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity’, but when a young champion is barbarously and publicly hanged by a state diplomacy, he feels painfully sanctioned by a state recognition. inadequate.
“Political neutrality should not result in inaction when athletes face terrorist-state-sanctioned brutality. Such a ‘safe’ response sends a troubling message to athletes in Iran and elsewhere; that the life and safety of the athlete is secondary to organizational protocol.”
“We don’t need the IOC to change a country’s laws, we need them to stand up and use their huge platform to support and help protect athletes.”
What happened to Saleh Mohammadi?
Mohammadi was reportedly killed in a public hanging on Thursday, according to Iranian-American human rights activists and dissidents.
Iran International reported that Iran’s regime hanged Mohammadi and two other Iranian men, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi, “after being accused of killing two police officers during nationwide protests earlier this year,” the judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency reported.
Mohammadi previously told the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting that his dream was to become an Olympic champion.
Mohammadi won a bronze medal in September 2024 for Iran’s national freestyle wrestling at the Saytiyev International Cup in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
