After reporting the escape of three Cuban athletes (among them the pitcher Yaimé Pérez, world champion in Doha) after the World Cup played in the United States, in recent hours the news has appeared of the disappearance of four athletes and a coach of the Eritrean team. Apparently, there is no trace of any of them since last Sunday, when the competition came to an end.
According to a statement, the University of Oregon Police Department stated that the five men had been staying in housing on campus that was contracted for their use during the championships. While the exact cause of their disappearance is unclear, the UOPD said there is no evidence of desertion or anything other than the fact that the men left the premises on their own.
Haileselassie, world and Olympic finalist
The FBI field office in Portland also stated that it was aware of the disappearance, but cited the UOPD as the current lead agency in the investigation. The missing men are Habtom Samuel Keleta, 18, Merhawi Mebrahtu Teweldebererhan, 18, Ande Filmon, 24, Yemane Teklehaim Haileselassie, 24, and Berhe Asgedom Nigusse, a 44-year-old trainer.
Haileselassie was fifth in the final of the 3,000 obstacles at the Tokyo Games and seventh in the last of the Oregon World Championships. He is sub-20 world runner-up in the modality as well (in 2016).
