Missing athletes

Pakistani boxer Qudratullah Khan's disappearance in Glasgow following the Commonwealth Games should alarm far more than Pakistan's sporting authorities. It is the latest in a series of incidents that point to a deeper malaise within the country's sporting system. As of now, the facts remain limited, and until investigations establish what transpired, it would be both unfair and irresponsible to speculate about his motives.

There could be any number of explanations, ranging from a personal emergency to a deliberate decision to remain abroad. The authorities must therefore focus first on establishing the facts before drawing conclusions. That said, this is by no means an isolated occurrence. In recent years, several Pakistani athletes have disappeared during overseas competitions. Two boxers went missing after the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Swimmer Faizan Akbar disappeared in Hungary the same year, while boxer Zohaib Rasheed walked away from Pakistan's contingent in Italy in 2024, later attributing his decision to financial hardship. Opportunities abroad may appear far more attractive than returning to a system that offers little security. Yet poverty or professional frustration cannot become a blanket justification for abandoning national contingents. Athletes travel abroad on official passports and visas facilitated through state institutions and public resources. Deliberately absconding from an international event undermines Pakistan's credibility and complicates visa procedures for future delegations.

This is why the response must be measured. If investigations reveal that Qudratullah Khan intentionally violated the conditions, appropriate action should follow in accordance with the law and the regulations governing international competition. Equally, if institutional shortcomings contributed to the situation, those responsible must also be held accountable. Such an exercise should go beyond determining where one athlete went. The objective should not be tighter surveillance alone but a better understanding of why these incidents continue to occur.