In Tunisia, the director general of the country’s anti-doping agency and the president of the national swimming federation are in custody. The reason for the imprisonment of Mourad Hambli and Hedi Belhassen is the anger of the Tunisian ruler Kais Saied over the handling of the Tunisian flag at an international swimming competition in Radès last week.
Since the Tunisian anti-doping agency ANAD is sanctioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency WADA for rule violations, the Tunisian flag may not be displayed at national or international championships in accordance with WADA regulations. At the Tunisia Open Masters, a three-day swimming festival, the Tunisian flag was temporarily covered with a red cloth.
WADA demands immediate release
On Friday last week, the last day of the event, the presidential office published a video of the angry and angrily gesticulating Saied visiting the hall. In a subsequent cabinet meeting, Saied spoke of an “outrage against the nation” and said that the covering “should not be tolerated. Tunisia is more important than the Olympic Committee and any other committee.”
The next day, the President ordered Hambli’s dismissal as ANAD Director General and the dissolution of the board of the national swimming association. On Monday this week, the Saied-controlled judiciary opened criminal proceedings against nine sports officials for “attacking the Tunisian flag,” “forming an (organized) gang to commit aggression and provoking unrest,” and “conspiring against internal security.” initiated by the state. Arrest warrants were executed against Hambli and Belhassen.
WADA expressed “deep concern” over Hambli’s arrest and called for his immediate and unconditional release. In cooperation with the ANAD under Hambli, “excellent progress” has been made so far in terms of restoring compliance with the rules in Tunisia’s anti-doping work. Saied, who has gradually disempowered his country’s democratic institutions, had several journalists and lawyers arrested in addition to the sports officials at the beginning of the week. To this end, the Tunisian police stormed the headquarters of the Bar Association in Tunis.
