Tunisian swimming chiefs arrested over flag dispute
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The global doping body added that it had been working with authorities to deal with the matter quickly.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
TUNIS – The heads of Tunisia’s swimming federation and national anti-doping organisation have been arrested after the country’s flag was covered at a meet in Tunis, a prosecutor’s office spokesman said on May 13.
In response to sanctions by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), which had banned the Tunisian flag from competitions, the flag was covered on May 10 during a championship organised by the national swimming federation at the Rades Olympic pool. That provoked an outraged reaction from Tunisian President Kais Saied.
After an investigation, nine people are being prosecuted, including the two presidents who have been in police custody since May 11, and seven other officials summoned on May 13 to the Ben Arous court, spokesman Mohamed Sadok Jouini said.
They face charges including “attack on the flag of Tunisia”, “formation of an organised group to commit attacks and cause disorder”, and “plot against the internal security” of the state, according to Jouini.
Montreal-based Wada issued a statement on May 13 expressing “deep concern” at the reported arrest of the National Anti-Doping Organisation of Tunisia (Anad) director-general and calling for his “immediate and unconditional release from custody, as well as the dropping of any charges made against him pertaining to this”.
The global doping body added that since the non-conformity of Anad was established, it had been working with authorities to deal with the matter quickly.
“Indeed, excellent progress has been made in that regard, making this latest development all the more unfortunate and untimely. Wada remains confident that the matter will be resolved in the very near future,” the agency’s statement said.
Hours after the flag incident on May 10, a video released by the president’s office showed Mr Saied visiting the pool, near Tunis, raising the flag and singing the national anthem.
In a meeting with Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani and other cabinet members, he said the country cannot “tolerate this – Tunisia comes before the Olympic Committee and before any other committees”.
The apparently agitated president also called the flag covering “an act of aggression”.
In a statement issued on May 11, the Tunisian youth and sports ministry announced the dissolution of the swimming federation board, and the dismissal of the Anad chief and a sports official based in Ben Arous.
The decision followed “instructions” by President Saied “to take immediate measures... against those responsible for the incident of hiding the national flag”, the statement said. AFP
