Indian swimmer returned from Asian Para Games amid sexual misconduct allegations

Indian para swimmer Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh is deported to India after being detained by Japanese police over charges of sexual harassment against a female hotel employee during the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japanese media reported.

The 40-year-old player was supposedly arrested after a housekeeper at the hotel registered a complaint against him on Monday. The case came to light on Thursday when he was repatriated to India a day after the alleged incident, as reported by The Tribune.

Shaikh was one of the members of India’s squad at the Games but failed to participate in his scheduled events. Following the allegations, there have been demands for disciplinary action against him and the Paralympic Committee of India has announced that he may face a ban for life.

India’s chef de mission, Rahul Swami, said Shaikh was back and could be dealt with severely by authorities. His future is not clear yet, but no official ban has been imposed.

The matter has not been proven and the details of this case have not been independently verified.

Shaikh from Bihar has competed in many international para-swimming events for India. At one point, he was also ranked World No. 1 in the men’s 100-metre butterfly and 50-metre breaststroke events in his categories, according to World Para Swimming.

The event has put India’s involvement in the Asian Para Games, which are taking place in Japan, in the spotlight.