CAIRO: An Egyptian cyclist was disqualified from the Paris Olympics on Sunday by the local Olympic committee after her selection caused a social media backlash stemming from a video that appeared to show her knocking a competitor off her bicycle months ago.

The largest Arab country is building its credentials for a possible bid for the 2036 Games, which if successful would bring the Olympics to Africa for the first time, spending billions on facilities and sending its biggest delegation to Paris.

During the national championship in April, a video showed Shahd Saied colliding with one of her challengers, Ganna Eliwa, pushing her to the ground before racing ahead.

Eliwa accused Saied of a deliberate attack and said she suffered concussion, a broken collarbone, bruises and temporary loss of memory. Saied insisted the incident was an accident but was handed a one-year ban from local competition.

The Egyptian Cycling Federation raised eyebrows on Tuesday when it named her for the Paris Games, saying she had qualified prior to the incident.

Saied started her career in her hometown in Fayoum, south of Cairo, about four years ago. She won two gold medals in individual contests at an African championship earlier this year.

Many Egyptians expressed anger and embarrassment, accusing the federation of disregarding sportsmanship.

“What is she doing there, didn’t she crash into her competitor on purpose?” asked one Facebook user under the announcement of Shahd’s par­t­i­cipation in the games. “This is beyond shameless and I hope you fail.”

After the country’s sports ministry asked for a review of the decision, the Olympic Committee ruled on Sunday that the local ban made her ineligible for international competitions.

Saied had, however, already told a local TV host she was retiring. “I’m not going to bike anymore. If they don’t want me to represent Egypt, fine, I won’t go to the Olympiad,” she said on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2024