Several Athletes Vanish After Commonwealth Games
Scottish authorities have launched an investigation after several athletes who competed at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow reportedly failed to return home with their national teams.
Police Scotland confirmed that a number of competitors remain unaccounted for following the conclusion of the 11-day Games, which ended on August 2 after athletes from across the Commonwealth competed in 10 sports.
Among those reported missing are four Ugandan boxers, Angel Katushabe, Nuhu Batte, Ibrahim Khemis and Emily Nakalema as well as Pakistan’s Qudratullah Khan.
The Ugandan athletes were absent when their country’s delegation departed Scotland, with reports indicating that one of the boxers had earlier expressed an intention to seek asylum.
Khan, who represented Pakistan in boxing, was reportedly last seen in his hotel room at about 2 a.m. on the day of his team’s departure. He failed to join his teammates for a scheduled gathering before they left the country.
In a statement, Police Scotland said inquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the missing athletes while working closely with the UK Home Office.
“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 statement said.
The incident is not without precedent. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, also held in Glasgow, dozens of athletes reportedly failed to return to their home countries after the competition.
A similar development occurred at the 2018 Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, where athletes from Uganda, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Rwanda were among those who remained behind, with some later seeking asylum or overstaying their visas.
The latest case has renewed attention on the recurring challenge of athletes disappearing after major international sporting events, as authorities continue efforts to establish the whereabouts of those still missing.
