PARIS (AFP) — Sadaf Khadem, the young Iranian boxer who won her first professional fight on Saturday in Royan (Charente-Martime, France), and her coach Mahyar Monshipour, have decided not to return to Iran because they claim to be under arrest, their press secretary told AFP on Wednesday.

Sadaf Khadem and her coach Mahyar Monshipour

During her fight against Anne Chauvin, a first for an Iranian woman, on 13 April 2019 in Royan, France.
(Credit: AFP / Mehdi Fedouach)

The two Iranians should have flown back on Tuesday, but they have remained in France and are currently staying in Poitiers, according to the same source. The boxer Sadaf Khadem won her first English boxing match against Anne Chauvin, the first in history for an Iranian woman, while in Iran it is forbidden to train with men and to participate in boxing competitions.