Iranian Athlete Seeks Asylum In Czech Republic
RFE/RLpayvand
13-Oct-2009

PRAGUE -- An Iranian national who left his team during an international rowing competition in the Czech Republic says he is seeking asylum, RFE/RL's Radio Farda reports.

In his first interview after leaving the team, Mehdi Haghshomar, a member of Iran's national rowing team who traveled to Prague in August to take part in the International Rowing Championships, told Radio Farda on October 12 that he was seeking refugee status.

Haghshomar said that the actions of the team's head coach led him to leave his teammates and seek asylum. He did not give further details.

There have been many contradictory statements in Iranian media since August about his whereabouts.

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