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Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Executive Director of European Affairs Shannon Seban sent a letter on Tuesday to French Minister of Sports Marina Ferrari and French Athletics Federation President Jean Gracia formally requesting the immediate expulsion of Olympic sprinter Muhammad Abdallah Kounta from the federation.
Kounta was suspended by the federation after a series of hateful social media posts he had published — including incitement of antisemitic violence, glorification of terrorism, and trivialization of the Holocaust — were uncovered in August 2024, shortly after the Paris Olympics, where he ran in the men’s 4 × 400 meter relay event. One post he retweeted said, “May Allah grant the most terrible and horrible degree of hell to the Zionists and their supporters.”
However, Kounta has since competed in two competitions for the French national team and has been selected to do so again this weekend at the World Relays in Bostwana.
In her letter, Seban called Kounta’s continued involvement with the French national team “profoundly bewildering.”
“Such positions are entirely incompatible with the values of sport and with the responsibility that comes with representing France internationally,” Seban wrote. “Wearing the national jersey requires dignity, respect, and adherence to the principles of the Republic. It is therefore unthinkable that he should represent France at the upcoming World Relays.”
As of Friday, no response had been received to Seban’s letter.
Nous sommes le 1er mai et cela fait deux jours que j’ai interpellé la Ministre @Marina_Ferrari ainsi que Jean Gracia, président de la @FFAthletisme.
À la veille des Relais mondiaux d’athlétisme, auxquels doit participer Muhammad Abdallah Kounta, allez-vous prendre vos… https://t.co/2zfNL9SA28
— Shannon Seban (@ShannonSeban) May 1, 2026
