Scottish police are investigating the disappearance of seven athletes who remain unaccounted for following the conclusion of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The missing athletes include four members of Uganda's boxing team, Pakistan boxer Qudratullah and two others whose identities have not been disclosed.
Scotland Police said it had received reports of "several athletes who are unaccounted for" and was investigating the circumstances in coordination with the UK Home Office
According to reports, the Ugandan boxers, Nuhu Batte, Angel Katushabe, Ibrahim Khemis and Emily Nakalema, failed to report for their scheduled flight home after the Games ended on Sunday.
While there has been no official confirmation of their intentions, one of the boxers told Uganda's NBS Sport that the group planned to seek asylum in Scotland and continue their boxing careers there, citing better training facilities and greater opportunities.
Their disappearance has once again drawn attention to a pattern that has followed several international sporting events involving African athletes.
Over the past two decades, dozens of African athletes have disappeared during overseas tournaments, with many later seeking asylum or choosing to remain abroad.
Previous cases have been linked to economic opportunities, political persecution and hopes of building better lives.
One of the latest cases came during qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, when seven Eritrean footballers disappeared after helping eliminate Eswatini.
"Most of them are substitute players," coach Hesham Yakan told Reuters.
"I do not think they will continue playing football," he added, saying he believed they were seeking economic opportunities in wealthier countries.
Eritrea has faced similar incidents before. In 2019, members of its under 20 football team disappeared while competing in Uganda, contributing to the country's decision to suspend participation in international competitions for several years.
More recently, a similar incident unfolded during the 2026 Gothia Cup in Sweden, where around 20 Ethiopian youth players and team officials disappeared after leaving their accommodation without informing organisers.
The Ethiopian Football Federation distanced itself from the delegation, saying the missing youths "departed through their own efforts and were not sent by the federation."
The Commonwealth Games have also seen repeated disappearances. At the 2018 Gold Coast Games in Australia, eight Cameroonian athletes, five boxers and three weightlifters, disappeared before the event ended.
Australian authorities later said around 190 athletes and officials sought asylum after the Games, while about 50 others remained unaccounted for a month later.
Uganda has experienced similar cases before, with three rugby players disappearing after a tournament in Germany in 2017 and two others going missing following the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
