Egypt bans athlete for supporting Morsi

Egypt has suspended a kung fu champion who accepted his gold medal at an international tournament wearing a T-shirt supporting his country's harried Islamist movement, a sports official said.

Morsi's men: Supporters of former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi have been arrested ever since he was ousted from power. Morsi is due to stand trial on November 4 on charges of inciting murder and violence. File Pic/AFP

Mohamed Youssef won a gold medal in the 90 kilogram Wushu category in the World Combat Games held this month in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

In a photo, Youssef was shown on stage holding his medal and wearing a T-shirt with a symbol commemorating the pro-Morsi protest camp that was crushed by security forces on August 14, leaving hundreds dead.

Youssef's brother Hamem said that he had been stripped of the medal, removed from a list of eligible kung fu players in the sport's national federation, and told he could not represent Egypt in future tournaments.

Mohamed Youssef himself was not immediately available for comment. When asked, Egypt Kung Fu Association executive officer Gamal El-Jazzar said, "Kung fu player Mohammed Youssef will be deported from Russia due to his behaviour."

"He will also be banned from representing Egypt in the coming Kung Fu World Championship." It is unclear if the ban will be permanent.

2,000
Number of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood members nabbed since July u00a0