Four Ethiopian athletes who were due to compete at an international meeting in Scotland today were missing last night after fleeing from their hotel in London.
A statement from scottish athletics said the athletes were seeking asylum.
The four are Betelhem Shewatatek (women’s 200 meters), Feleke Bekele (women’s 400 hurdles), Hagos Tadesse (men’s 400) and Tirehas Haileselassie (men’s hurdles).
The sports organisation confirmed the four team members “fled from their hotel” yesterday at lunchtime and failed to make their connecting flight to Edinburgh.
They had been due to take part in the Falkirk Cup athletics event at Grangemouth Stadium.
Geoff Wightman, scottishathletics’ chief executive, was forced to report the athletes to police as missing persons.
He said their disappearance could have consequences for his organisation with the UK Borders Agency.
Under rules introduced last year, sponsors of visiting sportsmen “have a duty to ensure that their visitors leave before their visa runs out,” according to the Home Office. “If sponsors fail in their duties, they face a ban on bringing anyone else over, penalties of up to £5000 or a jail sentence.”
Mr Wightman said: “It was our invitation that brought them here. It is a contract between us and the Ethiopian Federation. The athletes would have been paid a per diem allowance in lieu of prize money. It’s very disappointing. There’s coach-loads of supporters from Manchester and Glasgow, and I feel sorry for them.”
Scotland will compete against England, Ethiopia, Ireland and a Bank of Scotland Development Team in the event.
Dagmawit Amare, a member of the Ethiopian management who has been working on a placement at the governing body’s Edinburgh headquarters, said a colleague in London had tried to restrain two of them but they ran off.
Mr Amare said: “This is such a sad thing to happen for my country and the sport.”
Last year, several members of the Eritrean cross-country team successfully sought political asylum after the World Championships in Edinburgh. They are now members of Shettleston Harriers in Glasgow.
