Life Threats in the Iranian National Cycling Team's Camp

A member of the Iranian national cycling team has reported facing 'physical confrontation and life threats' during the national camp. Amir Kalhdooz attributed these incidents to club disputes between members of the 'Pishgaman' and 'Petrochemical' teams. He, who previously was a member of the Petrochemical team, joined the new team but faced a harsh reaction from national cyclists following this transfer. He has cycled for his former team for four years and considers changing clubs a natural issue that every athlete has the right to do. Kalhdooz, a member of the national road cycling team, told ISNA: 'One of the cyclists from the Petrochemical team insulted me and said I had sold them out. Another one told me to go back home.' However, the issue has not been limited to these 'misbehaviors'; Kalhdooz stated: 'Another cyclist threatened my life and said in a very harsh tone that he wouldn't let me stay in the camp. Even when we were on the bike, he bumped into me, causing me to veer off the asphalt road, but I did not fall.' It seems that the life threat to this member of the Iranian national cycling team is a matter that could be referred to the police. However, despite Kalhdooz's interview and his expressed concerns, federation officials have only announced that they will follow up the matter in the disciplinary committee. Kalhdooz said, 'I was asked to write my request in writing, and it was decided that Mr. Vafaee would fax it to Mr. Ghamari (the federation president) to form a disciplinary committee.' He reminded: 'I do not feel safe in the camp, and I fear every moment that I will be taken down. There are also young athletes in this camp, and all these incidents happen in front of them.' Some analyses and reports indicate that the lack of decisive action against internal disputes and misbehaviors in camps has caused significant harm to national teams in various sports. For example, the altercation between Fereydoun Ghanbari and Jalal Latifi in the national wrestling team's camp for the World Championships in New York led to Ghanbari's exclusion from the traveling team. He lost a world medal and later got involved in more serious controversies that continue to this day. Last week in Shahrestan, Kermanshah province, his car was shot at, and due to serious injuries, he is still in the hospital and unable to speak. The physical altercation between Reza Shahroudi and Ali Daei also occurred in the national football team's camp for the 1998 World Cup. During the World Cup itself, another player who was substituted against the USA argued with the national team's coach for several minutes on the sidelines.