ISLAMABAD –: Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate serious irregularities during the FISU World University Games 2025 held in Germany — including the reported disappearance or escape of two athletes, questionable selection of team officials, disciplinary breaches, and logistical issues. The committee, headed by Director PSB Lahore, has been tasked with submitting a comprehensive report within 15 days.
According to a notification issued with the approval of the PSB Director General, the Pakistani contingent’s participation in the Games revealed significant administrative failures. These included lack of transparency in the selection of team officials, discipline issues, logistical mismanagement, and the alarming disappearance of two student-athletes.
All team officials, except for one coach, were officials from the Higher Education Commission (HEC) or affiliated universities — a fact that has raised concerns regarding the transparency and merit of their selection. As per HEC, two student-athletes were reported missing or suspected of fleeing during the event.
Additionally, the Pakistani women’s 4x400m relay team was disqualified from the competition, and a judo athlete competed without proper coaching support and without an official competition uniform.
In light of these developments, the PSB has established a three-member inquiry committee comprising Director PSB Lahore Noor-us-Sabah as chairperson, with Nasrullah Rana and Saif-ur-Rehman Rao as members.
The committee will thoroughly examine the selection process and transparency behind the nomination of athletes and officials by HEC. It will assess whether each official’s inclusion in the delegation was in accordance with established procedures and clearly define their responsibilities.
The investigation will also focus on the circumstances surrounding the disappearance or escape of the two athletes, develop a timeline of events, and identify any individuals responsible for negligence or misconduct. It will further analyze the reasons behind the disqualification of the women’s relay team, including potential shortcomings in their preparation, selection, or oversight.
As outlined in the Terms of Reference (ToRs), the committee will also determine why the judo athlete was not provided with an appropriate competition uniform and why she competed without a coach. The committee will recommend disciplinary action against those found guilty of mismanagement, negligence, or dereliction of duty.
The committee is required to present a detailed report within 15 days of the notification’s issuance.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
