Holding athletes' passports is standard practice
A Pakistani boxer has reportedly gone missing from his team’s hotel in Glasgow after competing at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, despite his passport remaining in the custody of team management.
According to a source close to the Pakistan Olympic Association, boxer Qudratullah disappeared from the Pakistan contingent’s hotel shortly after competing.
The source said the circumstances surrounding the disappearance were particularly unusual.
The source added: “The interesting thing is Qudratullah disappeared despite his passport being with the team manager.”
Holding athletes’ passports is standard practice for Pakistan’s Commonwealth Games contingent and is intended to help prevent unauthorised departures during overseas competitions.
The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of the Pakistan Boxing Federation, which has faced similar controversies at major international events in recent years.
During the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, boxers Suleman Baloch and Nazeerullah Khan also went missing from the Pakistan contingent.
Reports at the time similarly stated that both athletes’ passports remained in the possession of the contingent head when they disappeared.
Their absence was noted just a few hours before the team were set to depart for Islamabad.
At an Olympic qualifying tournament in Italy in 2024, Zohaib Rasheed went missing after stealing from a teammate.
According to the Pakistan Amateur Boxing Federation, he disappeared from the team hotel after going into teammate Laura Ikram’s bag and stole her money while she was out training.
A senior official said they had brought it to the notice of the Pakistan Embassy in Italy.
A police report was also been filed.
Colonel Nasir Ahmed said at the time: “It is most embarrassing for the federation and country the way Zohaib Rasheed has behaved as he had gone there as part of a five-member squad to take part in an Olympic qualifying tournament.”
Rasheed had won a bronze medal in the 2023 Asian Boxing Championships and was an Olympic hopeful for Pakistan.
The latest incident adds to a disappointing Commonwealth Games campaign for Pakistan.
The country’s 36-member contingent finished the Glasgow Games with just one medal.
Female boxer Fatima Zehra secured Pakistan’s only podium finish after winning bronze, providing one of the few highlights for the team during the competition.
Neither the Pakistan Boxing Federation nor the Pakistan Olympic Association had publicly commented on Qudratullah’s reported disappearance at the time of writing.
Loading ...