*TEHRAN – An Iranian woman, who became the country’s first female boxer towin an international fight, intends to stay in France, her spokespersonsaid Wednesday, adding an arrest warrant had been issued against her inIran.*
Sadaf Khadem and her trainer Mahyar Monshipour are currently in the Frenchcity of Poitiers, the spokesperson, who asked not to be named, said.
Khadem, 24, had been due to return to Tehran, where she works as a fitnesstrainer, following her victory Saturday over 25-year-old Anne Chauvin ofFrance in the western town of Royan.
Monshipour, who has double French and Iranian nationality, had been due tomake a tour of Iran and give boxing classes.
In the bout Khadem was bare-headed and wearing shorts, defying rules inIran that female athletes should be covered in line with its Islamic lawsgoverning women’s dress. Khadem is accused of violating Iranian dress rulesfor women while her trainer is suspected of complicity, the spokespersonsaid.
There was no immediate comment from the Iranian judiciary but the Iranianboxing federation distanced itself from the female boxer. Hossein Soori,head of Iran’s boxing federation, in a statement issued by the Ministry ofSports and Youth, said Khadem was not a registered boxer in Iran and “inthe view of the federation all of her activities are a private act.”
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The federation said it “strongly” denied she was blocked from returningfrom France or that she would be punished if she re-entered Iran.
Mahyar Monshipour was warned of the existence of the arrest warrant in atext message, said the spokesperson, without giving further details. Thespokesperson said the French sports ministry was aware of the situation andthat the two Iranians did not want to speak publicly for now.
“I want to improve as much as possible, go as far as possible and showother Iranian women that they can taste this sport,” Khadem had told AFPahead of the bout.
Iranian women take part in a variety of sports, including in internationalcompetitions, ranging from rowing to rugby to athletics to taekwondo.However they must always obey Islamic dress rules, which means that somesports such as wrestling, boxing and swimming are off limits ininternational competition. – APP/AFP
