A Ugandan athlete who went missing last week from his pre-Olympic training camp in western Japan has been arrested a few hours after returning back home, local media quoted police sources Saturday in Uganda as saying.
Julius Ssekitoleko, a weightlifter who was staying in Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture, went missing Friday after leaving a note at his hotel saying he wanted to work in Japan as life in his home country was difficult. The city and his team had been trying to locate him with help from Japanesepolice.
The athlete and his coach returned to Uganda earlier Saturday after the weightlifter missed out on a spot for the Tokyo Olympics.
Since arriving in Japan, two members of the Ugandan delegation have tested positive for the virus. The first, a man in his 50s, was found to be infected upon arrival at Narita Airport near Tokyo.
After being isolated, the members were able to start training from July 7 and they entered the athletes village in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Ssekitoleko made news last week on Friday when he vanished from the Olympic village facilities in Izumisano City, Japan where the Ugandan Olympic team had pitched camp in preparation for the World Olympic Games that commenced earlier Friday.
CU/abj/APA