Afghan Athletes Allege Nepotism and Irregularities in Athletics Team Selection for Asian Indoor Championships in China

Informed sources among athletes and former members of Afghanistan's national athletics team have alleged widespread violations, lack of transparency, and non-sporting interventions in the selection and dispatch process for the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in China.

The Afghanistan Athletics Federation had two quotas for the event, but only one qualified athlete was sent, with the second quota assigned to Sahl Amiri, the federation's secretary-general and son of current head Shahpour Amiri, without trials or official announcement, the sources told Afghanistan International. No official notice for selection competitions was issued, and some migrant athletes in Iran were advised against traveling to Kabul, while others were told additional spots could be available if they covered their own costs, though this option was not extended to the migrants.

Sources claim the best recorded time in the 3000 meters belonged to a migrant Afghan athlete, but it was attributed to another athlete by the federation. Mohammad Bilal Rasouli, an Afghan athlete, protested that despite holding the best national record, winning the nationals, and being officially nominated, his participation was overlooked after months of intense training and personal expenses for travel documents. He said he was informed that only "one athlete and one coach" were sent to China without the federation leadership's knowledge, questioning, "To what hope should we train when rights do not go to the rightful?"

The sources pointed to a conflict of interest, as father and son both hold positions in the federation and traveled abroad, violating international athletics regulations. They alleged Shahpour Amiri had previously sent another son abroad as a national team athlete, sparking protests. Athletes complained of opaque, arbitrary selection favoring family ties over merit and the complete exclusion of women from Afghan athletics, even internationally.

As of publication, the Afghanistan Athletics Federation had not responded to the allegations, a silence that athletes say heightens doubts about its transparency and management.