What was supposed to be the start of an exciting European athletics tour has instead become a legal battle for Ugandan distance runner Sam Yeko.
Yeko was detained by immigration authorities upon arrival at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on Thursday after officials questioned the validity of his passport. The athlete had travelled to Europe to compete in a series of international races after securing a one-year Schengen visa on June 8.
Initially, Yeko was scheduled to compete in the Corrida de Langueux road race in France on June 13. However, a late invitation to the 55th Gouden Spike track and field meeting in Leiden, Netherlands, prompted him to change plans and head to the Dutch event instead.
His trip took an unexpected turn when Dutch authorities stopped him at the airport, claiming his passport was invalid. The Uganda Athletics Federation immediately alerted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which connected officials to Uganda’s Embassy in Brussels, Belgium, responsible for diplomatic affairs in the Netherlands.
According to federation General Secretary Beatrice Ayikoru, the matter is now being handled with the support of the Ugandan Embassy, the Ministry of Education and Sports, and lawyers secured through Yeko’s management team, Mezzo Management Group.
Yeko is expected to appear before a Dutch court on Monday, June 15, to answer questions regarding the passport. The case has surprised Ugandan athletics officials, who note that the runner has held the same passport since 2023 and has used it for several international trips without any problems.
Ugandan authorities remain hopeful that the matter will be resolved quickly, allowing Yeko to return to competition and continue the European campaign he had travelled abroad to pursue.
