French Sprinter Kounta Suspended for Hate Speech

Muhammad Abdallah Kounta, a French 400-meter runner who participated in the Paris Olympics, has been suspended by the French Athletics Federation for hate speech found in his past social media posts. The suspension was confirmed by Minister of Sports Amelie Oudea-Castera, who stated that the case has been referred to the public prosecutor and the federation's disciplinary committee. Kounta's comments, which included expressions of hatred towards Israel, were highlighted by the X account Sword of Solomon. In an attempt to mitigate the backlash, Kounta shared an apology on social media, asserting his opposition to genocide and racism while expressing pride in his French identity. The incident has raised concerns about athletes using the Olympic platform to express personal views that may conflict with national values. The FFA emphasized the need for athletes to uphold the unity of French athletics and respect republican principles.