Iranian athletes, coach arrested for gang rape of Korean woman during Asian Athletics Championships
Two Iranian athletes and a coach have been arrested for gang rape of a 20-year-woman during the 2025 Asian Athletics Championship in South Korea, according to reports. The incident allegedly happened in the Korean city of Gumi at the hotel where the Iranian delegation stayed.
While Iran's Athletics Federation maintained that three members of the national team committed inappropriate behaviour, Iranian newspaper Khabar Varzeshi published a detailed account of the alleged, which suggests that the woman called the police after hiding in the bathroom.
According to the report by Khabar Varzeshi, a leading sports publication in Iran, the woman met the Iranian athlete, identified as K, at a bar. She arrived at the hotel with him. Later, a second athlete joined them in the room. Soon, another person, identified as M, joined the duo, which the woman objected to.
The woman hid inside the bathroom and secretly called the police. The officers filed a group sexual assault based on the complaint against the three. However, the accused claimed that the first two encounters were consensual and only the third was forced. Police, however, reportedly dismissed this and detained all three men.
South Korean newspaper Hankyoreh too confirmed the report, stating that two 30-year-old Iranian athletes and a coach had been arrested on charges of rape.
The hotel where the Iranian athletes were staying is under tight security though the accused have been transferred to prison. The police have taken control of the hotel to prevent angry people from possibly harming the athlete, according to Iran's Athletics Federation.
The Federation said it would take disciplinary action against the accused, adding that the matter is under review and disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with regulations.
The Iranian Ministry of Sports said Minister Ahmad Donyamali had ordered the deputy minister for professional and championship sports to seriously pursue the issue and present a detailed report on the various aspects of this incident.
Middle East