Indian para swimmer Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh could face a lifetime ban from Indian para-sport authorities following allegations of sexual harassment and molestation involving a female hotel employee during the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan.
According to a report published by The Times of India on October 22, 2026, Shaikh was detained by Japanese police following the alleged incident and was subsequently sent back to India before competing in his scheduled events.
Incident Reported at Team Hotel
According to The Times of India, the alleged incident took place on Monday at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel, where members of India’s para swimming contingent were staying during the Games.
The newspaper cited a senior official from the Indian delegation who said the local organizing committee had informed the chef de mission’s office about an alleged sexual misconduct incident involving an Indian athlete and a hotel employee.
The report stated that Shaikh was taken to a local police station following the complaint. It also said the Indian delegation submitted a written apology to the hotel employee and that Shaikh subsequently left Japan on a flight to India on Tuesday.
The circumstances described above are based on the account reported by The Times of India. An independent account of the incident or a formal statement from Japanese police was not available for this article.
Lifetime Ban Under Consideration
The Times of India report stated that the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) was considering disciplinary action against Shaikh, potentially including a lifetime ban.
According to the outlet, the delegation’s chef de mission’s office had recommended a lifetime ban, with a formal decision expected to be considered at a meeting in New Delhi after the Games. The report also said the PCI had informed the central government about the proposed action.
As of the publication of this article, a final lifetime-ban decision had not been confirmed in the cited report.
Shaikh’s Para Swimming Career
Shaikh, 40, has previously represented India at international para-swimming competitions. According to the Times of India, he was formerly ranked world No. 1 in the men’s 100m butterfly S5 and 50m breaststroke SB4 events.
He represented India at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta and won 200m breaststroke gold at the Reykjavik International Games in 2025, according to the newspaper.
His reported departure from the 2026 Asian Para Games means he will not compete in his scheduled events at the Nagoya competition.
The case raises questions about disciplinary procedures and athlete conduct at international sporting events. Any sanctions imposed by Indian sporting authorities will depend on the formal decisions taken by the relevant bodies.
The allegations have not been presented in India as a judicial finding, and the potential lifetime ban remains subject to an official decision.
