Rob Koehler
14.2K posts
Rob Koehler
@RobKoehler2
Director General, Global Athlete
Katılım Ağustos 2018
344 Takip Edilen2.1K Takipçiler
One year ago today, Kirsty Coventry was elected IOC President, a historic moment for the Olympic Movement.
The double Olympic champion in swimming took office on 24 June 2025 and headed the IOC at her first Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 a few weeks ago.
Throwback 👇
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Rob Koehler retweetledi
Iran's Brutal Regime Executes 19-Year-Old Wrestling Champion in Public Hanging joepags.com/news/irans-bru…
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Rob Koehler retweetledi
These young Iranian men put on a brave face as they were handed death sentences in Iran for protesting.
They were convicted of ‘waging war against God.’
Yesterday they were all executed.
🕯️Saleh Mohammadi
🕯️Saeed Davoudi
🕯️Mehdi Ghasemi
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Rob Koehler retweetledi
A 19-year-old national wrestling champion executed in Iran. Not for a crime, but for speaking out.
For decades, the Iranian regime has waged a relentless campaign against its own people: hanging, silencing, and erasing thousands.
Young men and women. Students. Athletes. Voices of courage, whose only “crime” was daring to think freely.
A regime that fears its own citizens will always choose brutality to survive.
Masih Alinejad 🏳️@AlinejadMasih
Today, in Iran, in the middle of a war, the regime executed a 19-year-old national wrestling champion for the crime of joining January protests. 💔 After signaling to the world, including President @realDonaldTrump, that they would halt executions of protesters, the regime has done the exact opposite. Three young protesters, Saleh Mohammadi, Mehdi Ghasemi, and Saeed Davoudi, were hanged in Qom after a sham trial. Reports indicate torture. Forced confessions. No access to chosen lawyers. Closed-door proceedings. No right to appeal. I call on @GlobalAthleteHQ to stand with Iranian athletes who are being silenced, imprisoned, and executed simply for raising their voices. This is not just about sports. This is about human dignity.
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Rob Koehler retweetledi
Iran should be banned from any future Olympic Games for killing their own athletes
Visegrád 24@visegrad24
BREAKING: The Islamic regime in Iran hanged the 19-year-old wrestler and anti-regime protester Saleh Mohammadi today
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Global Athlete@GlobalAthleteHQ
Global Athlete calls on the @iocmedia and all International Federations to immediately suspend the Iranian National Olympic Committee and all Iranian national sport organizations following the tragic execution of 19-year-old champion wrestler, Saleh Mohammadi, for peacefully protesting the Khamenei regime. Full letter below ⬇️ @Olympics @ASOIFSummerIFs @gaisf_sport @hrw @UN globalathlete.org/our-word/irani…
QME
Meet Yazdan Afrough.
He was 18. A wrestling champion from Tehran. A young athlete known for his strength, discipline, and the kind of determination that wins medals.
On January 19, in the Shadabad neighborhood of Tehran, security forces shot him.
He fell to the ground wounded.
And then they finished the job, two more bullets, to the heart and the stomach.
Afterward, his family was pressured to lie. They were told to say he was a member of the Basij. Human rights reports say otherwise: he was another young Iranian killed in the crackdown on protests.
Yazdan was a rising wrestler, a champion in Tehran’s youth competitions. A young man with a future in the sport he loved.
Instead of cheering crowds, he received bullets.
Say his name: Yazdan Afrough.
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🚨 IMPORTANT – Flashing SOS
To the athletes of the world: Iranian athletes were killed for demanding freedom. You have global platforms. Millions listen to you. Use that voice now to help Iranian to get rid of tyranny. Let’s be united against Sport washing. Let’s be united support Freedom.
Let me introduce you to heroes brave Iranian athletes who refused to stay silent. They went to the streets with empty hands demanding freedom, and many were shot in the heart or the head. Please join us and say their names. Share their stories. Stand with Iranian athletes.
Meet my heroes. Meet Iran’s heroes.
1)
Meet Zahra Azadpour.
She was 27. A women’s league football player in Iran. A professional climber who conquered mountains like Damavand and Espilet. An athlete who had even been invited to the Iranian national team camps.
Her crime?
She went to the streets of Karaj with empty hands and demanded freedom.
On January 19, 2026, the Islamic Republic answered her with a bullet.
Think about that for a moment. A young woman who trained her whole life to climb mountains and play football was treated like an enemy of the state, simply for asking for freedom.
Say her name: Zahra Azadpour.
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Global Athlete@GlobalAthleteHQ
Global Athlete calls on the @iocmedia and all International Federations to immediately suspend the Iranian National Olympic Committee and all Iranian national sport organizations following the tragic execution of 19-year-old champion wrestler, Saleh Mohammadi, for peacefully protesting the Khamenei regime. Full letter below ⬇️ @Olympics @ASOIFSummerIFs @gaisf_sport @hrw @UN globalathlete.org/our-word/irani…
QME
Rob Koehler retweetledi
Everyone fears for the Iranian footballers, but two anti-regime protestors in their 30s - risking their lives to speak out - insist there is still unprecedented hope for women. @DailyMail quotes @AAIRIA_Org director @LawdanBazargan
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1…
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Rob Koehler retweetledi
The @iocmedia and @FIFAcom have long seemed scared to take any action against #Iran, even though there’s been plenty of reasons as to why they should. I wrote about it in the #ZeusFiles earlier today duncanmackayveritas.substack.com/p/why-are-the-…
Global Athlete@GlobalAthleteHQ
Global Athlete calls on the @iocmedia and all International Federations to immediately suspend the Iranian National Olympic Committee and all Iranian national sport organizations following the tragic execution of 19-year-old champion wrestler, Saleh Mohammadi, for peacefully protesting the Khamenei regime. Full letter below ⬇️ @Olympics @ASOIFSummerIFs @gaisf_sport @hrw @UN globalathlete.org/our-word/irani…
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Rob Koehler retweetledi
Global Athlete calls on the @iocmedia and all International Federations to immediately suspend the Iranian National Olympic Committee and all Iranian national sport organizations following the tragic execution of 19-year-old champion wrestler, Saleh Mohammadi, for peacefully protesting the Khamenei regime.
Full letter below ⬇️
@Olympics @ASOIFSummerIFs @gaisf_sport @hrw @UN
globalathlete.org/our-word/irani…
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Rob Koehler retweetledi
The Iranian regime executed a 19 year old for demanding democracy.
I stand with his memory and the thousands of other young Iranians.
Those who grieve the elimination of Iranian leaders over murdered protesters is telling.
Masih Alinejad 🏳️@AlinejadMasih
Today, in Iran, in the middle of a war, the regime executed a 19-year-old national wrestling champion for the crime of joining January protests. 💔 After signaling to the world, including President @realDonaldTrump, that they would halt executions of protesters, the regime has done the exact opposite. Three young protesters, Saleh Mohammadi, Mehdi Ghasemi, and Saeed Davoudi, were hanged in Qom after a sham trial. Reports indicate torture. Forced confessions. No access to chosen lawyers. Closed-door proceedings. No right to appeal. I call on @GlobalAthleteHQ to stand with Iranian athletes who are being silenced, imprisoned, and executed simply for raising their voices. This is not just about sports. This is about human dignity.
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Rob Koehler retweetledi
FIFA has punished the Israeli FA for discriminatory conduct after allegations were raised about racism by officials and fans of club sides.
Fined about $190,000 and ordered to display a sign saying “Football Unites the World – No to Discrimination” at three home FIFA matches
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Rob Koehler retweetledi
حکومتی که در میانه جنگ زمان آن را یافت تا با گروگانگیری خانواده دختران فوتبالیست، آنها را مجبور به بازگشت کند و یک قهرمان ۱۹ ساله را در ملأ عام اعدام کند، هیولایی است که اگر تا آخرین نفسش گرفته نشود، دوباره سر بر میآورد و فاجعههای بزرگتری خلق میکند.
foxnews.com/sports/mojtaba…
فارسی
Rob Koehler retweetledi
Im Iran sind ein 19-jähriger Ringer und zwei weitere Männer öffentlich hingerichtet worden. Sie hatten gegen das Regime demonstriert. Auch der Menschenrechtsaktivist und Kampfsportler @nima__far Nima Far verurteilte die Hinrichtungen. «Seine Hinrichtung war ein offener politischer Mord, Teil des Musters der Islamischen Republik, Athleten ins Visier zu nehmen, um Dissens zu unterdrücken und die Gesellschaft zu terrorisieren», sagte er gegenüber «Fox News @FoxNewsSports_ .
Far zog zudem Parallelen zum Fall des Ringers Navid Afkari, der 2020 nach Protesten hingerichtet worden war. Er forderte internationale Sportverbände zum Handeln auf. «Iran muss von internationalen Wettbewerben ausgeschlossen werden, bis es die Hinrichtungen von Demonstranten und Athleten stoppt, die Inhaftierten freilässt und die Repressionen gegen Sportler beendet», sagte Far.
cc: @AAIRIA_Org @LawdanBazargan @CZuricher @SamuelePizzuti
20min.ch/story/iran-rin…
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Rob Koehler retweetledi
Another shameful decision: @RealWorldBoxing admitted 🇷🇺 and 🇧🇾 as their newest members
The need of creating World Boxing emerged due to Russia occupying and corrupting Olympic boxing – yet it's now invited back
World Boxing is now led by former boxing athlete Gennady Golovkin
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Rob Koehler retweetledi
I sent press queries earlier today to @Olympics @iocmedia @wrestling about the Iranian regime's public hanging of 19-year-old champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi because he protested against @khamenei_ir's regime. Thus far no response.
Critics contend @Olympics @wrestling could have forcefully intervened to save Saleh's life. IOC and UWW apparently opted to sit on the sidelines.
Human rights activists call for international sports boycott after Mohammadi's execution alongside two other protesters in Qom.
cc: @sardar_pashaei @nima__far @LawdanBazargan @AAIRIA_Org @AlinejadMasih @AlirezaNader @AmnestyIran @IranIntl_En @IHRDC @IranNewsAgency0 @USAWrestling @FloWrestling @CPyles8 @GazelleSharmahd @MarjanKg @memarsadeghi @MSoghom @RobKoehler2 @therealBehnamBT @EzraACohen @NegarMojtahedi @Maj_mohammadi
foxnews.com/sports/mojtaba…
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Rob Koehler retweetledi
cc: @RepDonBacon @CPyles8
@KozakJon @MarkSBader @mrfasttwitch @rader_jd
@bennyavni @therealBehnamBT @Olympics
@RobKoehler2 @USABehFarsi
@Coach_Manning @HuskerWrestling
Benjamin Weinthal@BenWeinthal
Breaking: Mojtaba Khamenei regime executes champion teenage wrestler Saleh Mohammadi as Iran's regime intensifies brutal crackdown during war. Human rights activists call for international sports @Olympics @wrestling boycott after Mohammadi's execution alongside two other protesters in Qom. My latest @FNCGlobalNews with comments @nima__far @sardar_pashaei @AlirezaNader @AlinejadMasih . foxnews.com/sports/mojtaba…
The @iocmedia must immediately suspend the Iranian NOC. There is no separation between the regime and sport. @Olympics @hrw
The execution of athletes in Iran is not new. 5 years ago, they took the life of wrestler Navid Afkari.
Past release: @GlobalAthlete
globalathlete.org/our-word/ioc-h…
Sardar Pashaei@sardar_pashaei
One of them was executed this morning. The others are still alive. There is still time to save them. The international community must act now: use every tool and demand an immediate halt to executions. Ordinary people must not become victims of a regime’s brutal revenge.
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Rob Koehler retweetledi
IPC commented on meeting of Russian Paralympians with a participant in Russian aggression against Ukraine:
"It’s not a breach of the IPC constitution/regulations for athletes/NPC members to meet with politicians/dignitaries, as often happens after their achievements at Games".
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Rob Koehler retweetledi
Shortly after I published this article, it was announced that teenage wrestler #SalehMohammadi had been executed by the regime in Iran.
In February, the #ZeusFiles had asked the @iocmedia what action they were taking to try to save Mohammadi, whose confession to a murder he did not commit was extracted under torture. They told us they were pursuing “quiet diplomacy”.
A follow up email to the IOC earlier this week asking for an update was ignored. Will they say anything know or take any action against the Iran NOC?
Mohammadi is the second wrestler executed in Iran in five years. The IOC were also ignored in 2020 when Navid Afkari was killed in the same circumstances after the Iranian regime ignored a plea for clemency from then IOC President Thomas Bach
Instead of taking action, in 2024 Bach sent a letter of appreciation to the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the country’s participation in the Olympic Movement for more than 100 years.
A reminder that before the start of the @Olympics at @milanocortina26, the IOC appointed Iranian Soraya Aghaei as its newest member.
Duncan Mackay@duncanjourno
Iran's Football Association terrorises its players and threatens their families, its National Olympic Committee follows anti-discriminatory policies against its women and regularly flouts the @Olympics Charter. Both are under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps but @iocmedia and @FIFAcom seem terrified of taking any action to stop them. Why? My latest #ZeusFiles at duncanmackayveritas.substack.com/p/why-are-the-…
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