BOC calls on IOC to take supportive stance to release Bahraini athlete Sami Al Haddad

Manama, Jan. 12 (BNA): Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) has called on the international sport community and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to take a decisive and supportive stance to release the Bahraini world bodybuilding champion and BOC ambassador, Sami Ibrahim Al Haddad, who was arrested by the Qatari authorities on January 8, 2021 for no reason while he was on a fishing trip with his friends in the Bahraini territorial waters. BOC described the arrest as a flagrant violation of international laws and covenants. BOC sent an official address to IOC President Thomas Bach demanding the international sport community and IOC to take a supportive stance to release the Bahraini athlete out of belief that sport is a message of love and peace between people and a way to achieve the noble Olympic values of friendship, respect and tolerance between all countries. BOC called on the Qatari authorities to release immediately Sami Ibrahim Al Haddad and his friends as he is one of the most prominent sportsmen who represented the Kingdom of Bahrain in many international events and brought about many achievements in bodybuilding, including mainly clinching the first place and the gold medal in the IFBB Mozolani Pro Classic championship in 2016 and the first place and the gold medal in the IFBB Pro Spain championship in 2018. Sami Ibrahim Al Haddad is also the first Bahraini athlete to receive from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa a passport with the job of a professional sportsperson. BOC has affirmed that despite the diplomatic efforts exerted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure the release of Sami Ibrahim Al Haddad, the Qatari authorities are still detaining him until now.