LATEST: Iranian sport climber Elnaz Rekabi returns to Tehran after garnering global attention for competing overseas without wearing a hijab, which is required of female athletes representing the Islamic Republic.
Rekabi initially appeared with a hijab at the weeklong annual Asian Championships in the South Korean capital, but then wore just a black headband when competing in the final round on Sunday. She finished in fourth place.
The Iran Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation announced the result on its website alongside an undated image of Rekabi wearing a hijab. Rekabi did not respond to ABC News' request for comment on Monday, while telephone calls to the Iranian climbing federation went unanswered. However, on Tuesday, an Instagram account in Rekabi's name posted a statement in Farsi, saying: "Due to finals sensitivity and unexpected call to climb the wall, my hijab went wrong unintentionally.
Iranian protesters set their scarves on fire while marching down a street on Oct. 1, 2022 in Tehran, Iran. Protests over the death of 22-year-old Iranian Mahsa Amini have continued to intensify despite crackdowns by the authorities, The 22-year-old Iranian fell into a coma and died after being arrested in Tehran by the morality police, for allegedly violating the countries hijab rules.
In December 2019, Iranian chess player Mitra Hejazipour removed her hijab during the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in Moscow while competing under the Islamic Republic's flag. The Iran Chess Federation subsequently expelled her. The 29-year-old is now said to be competing in a private capacity and living in France.
"There is a lot of information in the public sphere regarding Ms. Rekabi and as an organisation we have been trying to establish the facts. We have also been in contact with Ms. Rekabi and the Iranian Climbing Federation," the IFSC said. "Our understanding is that she is returning to Iran, and we will continue to monitor the situation as it develops on her arrival.
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