الاتحاد الدولي للخماسي الحديث يجدد اعترافه بنظيره اللبناني

In a remarkable move expressing support and praise, the President of the Lebanese Modern Pentathlon Federation, Engineer Roukoz Zgheib, and the Secretary General, Ms. Nadia Nehme, received an official letter from the International Federation of the game, signed by President Rob Stoll and Secretary General Cheney Fang, in which he expressed his surprise at the decision of the Lebanese Ministry of Youth and Sports to suspend the membership of the Lebanese Federation, issued on April 4, 2025.

The letter stated: “As the global governing body, we confirm that the Lebanese Modern Pentathlon Federation is a full member of the International Federation and enjoys all rights to manage and develop the Olympic modern pentathlon, in addition to activities related to non-Olympic sports in Lebanon.”

The International Federation praised the Lebanese Federation's activity in recent years, noting that "it is encouraging to see the increased focus on athlete development since the reactivation of the National Olympic Sports Federation."

The International Federation also expressed its strong reservations about the decision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, considering that it clearly contradicts the Olympic Charter, which stipulates in Article 27.9 that the National Olympic Committees are the body authorized to manage sports in countries, and prohibits any governmental interference that hinders their work or obstructs their will.

In closing, the International Federation reiterated its commitment to supporting the Lebanese Federation in cooperation with the Lebanese Olympic Committee, noting that it recognizes the Lebanese Federation as the legitimate national body representing sports in Lebanon. It also affirmed its full readiness to provide any additional support requested.

Copies of the book were sent to the Lebanese Olympic Committee, the Director of Relations and Olympic Solidarity at the International Olympic Committee, James McLeod, and the Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, Hussein Al-Musallam.