At least 65 Iranian athletes, coaches and referees have been identified among the tens of thousands reportedly killed during a five-day crackdown carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps across more than 170 cities between 8 and 12 January 2026.
The scale of the killings remains contested. Figures leaked on 21 January by the security and foreign policy committee of the Iranian parliament put the death toll at a minimum of 27,500. Other reports from independent sources estimate the number could be as high as 40,000.
Images circulating in media outlets and on social platforms appear to show some victims with IV lines still attached, while others were allegedly killed with their hands bound. The footage has fuelled allegations that some were shot while receiving medical treatment, or executed after arrest.
The events have reverberated across Iran’s sporting community, both inside the country and in the diaspora. A number of athletes have publicly confirmed arrests and detentions. Among those reported detained are goalkeeper Roozbeh Sinki of Gol Gohar FC, karateka Sasan Azadvar, national wrestler Saleh Mohammadi, who has also reportedly been sentenced to death, kickboxer Benjamin Naqdi and footballer Abolfazl Dokht.
National wrestler, Saleh Mohammadi
Others who have left Iran have called on the International Olympic Committee and international federations to take a clearer stance. On 29 January, Sportsin published an open letter signed by 43 Iranian athletes and coaches addressed to IOC President Kirsty Coventry. The signatories, including former Olympians and sports academics, urged the IOC to establish a mechanism allowing Iranian athletes to compete under the Olympic flag, citing concerns over political interference and safety.
Hours after the letter was made public, Coventry told Reuters that the IOC would continue to support athletes through sports diplomacy. She did not clarify how long the IOC would maintain its working relationship with the heads of Iran’s National Olympic and Paralympic Committees, both of whom are senior figures in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and have recently been placed on European sanctions lists.
Scrutiny has also intensified following the IOC’s 145th Session in Milan, where Soraya Aghaei, nominated by Repablic Islamic’s National Olympic Committee, was elected to IOC membership with Coventry’s backing. Mahmoud Khosravi Vafa, president of Iran’s National Olympic Committee and an IRGC member, was present in Milan in support of her candidacy.
Goalkeeper, Roozbeh Sinki
The massacre has also prompted demonstrations abroad. Olympic taekwondo medallist Kimia Alizadeh addressed a crowd estimated at 250,000 during a rally of Iranian expatriates in Munich, organised following a call by Prince Reza Pahlavi. “How many of us must be killed before the world hears the voice of the Iranian people?” she said.
Chess player Mitra Hejazipour, who left Iran after opposing compulsory hijab rules and restrictions on competing against Israeli athletes, also spoke at the rally. “The regime killed those it could, imprisoned those it could. Our dream is a free Iran, liberated from ideological rule,” she said.
As of 15 February, the names of 65 athletes killed in the January 2026 crackdown have been verified and published. Many more remain unaccounted for, with families still searching for information about their fate.
1. Sepehr Ebrahimi – Boxer
2. Milad Mianehkhah – Professional footballer
3. Hadi Forough – Basketball player and Iraninian University Champion
4. Ali Alipour – Boxing
5. Zahra Azadpour – Professional footballer
6. Ahmad Asghari – Bodybuilder
7. Hossein Yaghmaei – Wrestler
8. Ghasem Vakili – Motorsport
9. Abbas Eshaghi – Mountaineer
10.Mehdi Kavousi – Bodybuilder
11.Amirali Darabi – Boxer
12.Yashar Soltani Rad – Wrestler
13.Aria Ariankhoo – Bodybuilder
14.Shayan Shakeri – Taekwondo
15.Shahab Fallahpour – Wrestler
16.Mohammad Hajipour – Professional footballer
17.Afshin Miyarkiani – Taekwondo
18.Mehdi Lavasani – Footballer
19.Arnika Dabbagh – Swimmer
20.Ahmad Khosravani – Basketball player
21.Sahba Rashtian – Football referee
22.Masoud Zatparvar – Bodybuilder
23.Rebin Moradi – Footballer
24.Shahram Maghsoudi – Powerlifting
25.Mojtaba Tarshiz – Professional footballer
26.Sara Behboudi – Mountaineer
27.Arshia Ahmadpour – Boxer
28.Hassan Ghasemi – Karate coach
29.Amir Mohammad Karami – Taekwondo
30.Maysam Khazaei – Bodybuilder
31.Mohammadreza Khani – MMA
32.Mohammad javad Heydari – MMA
33.Mahan Mardani – Footballer
34.Ahmad Ramezanzadeh – National Baseball team member
35.Yazdan Afrough – Wrestler
36.Hossain Kolhar – Football referee
37.Abolfazl Mehri – Taekwondo
38.Arshia Barari – Karate
39.Raham Saadati – Volleyball player
40.Mohammad Hossain Parnon – Boxer
41.Mobin Ghanbari – Footballer
42.Ali Mohammad Kord Kazemi – Basketball player
43.Ali Ayazi – Professional footballer
44.Amir Mohammad Lotfi – Footballer
45.Mohammad Amin Abdi – Footballer
46.Venous Negahban – Bodybuilder
47.Amir Mehdi Keshavarz – Footballer
48.Mehdi Allahyari – Bodybuilder
49.Solaiman Parhizkar – Kickboxer
50.Mansour Shahsavari – Bodybuilder
51.Mahan Haghighi – Wrestler
52.Erfan Kaari – Wrestler
53. Pedram Khalouee – Footballer
54.Majid Jalilian – Bodybuilder
55.Pejhman Norouz Rajabi – Motorcyclist
56.Hamidreza Hadadi Shandiz – Footballer
57.Masih Shahbari – Footballer
58.Amirhossain Vandalvand – Footballer
59.Amirali Ghanbarzadeh – Basketball player
60.Alireza Valipour – Karate
61.Nader Mollavi – Footballer
62.Amirsalar Ghasemi – Karate
63.Mehdi Ebadali – Karate
64.Mahna Dokoushkani – Karate
65.Mehdi Khalili – Swimmer
