KINSHASA, Aug 15: A judoka and three coaches from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Olympic delegation, listed as having gone missing after leaving the Athletes’ Village at the London Games, missed their flight home — but the judoka says he is on holiday, an official source said Tuesday.

Cedric Mandembo, who competed in the +100kg category, boxing coach Blaise Bekwa, athletics coach Guy Nkita and judo coach Ibula Masengo have not been seen since the Games came to a close on Sunday evening, a sports ministry source had said on Monday.

“The three coaches and the judoka did not take the plane” but the rest of the delegation did turn up for the flight home, the head of the country’s National Olympic Committee, Amos Mbayo Kitenge, said.

Mandembo insisted he was just having a break.

“I have not fled. I came to participate in a competition and I will go back. As my visa is valid until September I have asked the chef de mission if I can stay on for a few days,” he told Top Congo FM radio, adding he was seeing friends.

Kitenge said he had spoken to Mandembo.

“I had him on the phone this morning. He called me himself to say he had not gone missing but is in Manchester, where he is spending his holidays.”—AFP