Mehbooba Ahadyar, Afghanistan's Only Female Olympian, Disappears in Italy

In March we introduced you to Mehbooba Ahadyar, a 19-year-old runner who was expected to be the only female on Afghanistan's Olympic team. She has qualified in the 1500 meters and the 3000 meters, and she was a source of great pride to many Afghan women, who were not permitted to participate in sports under the Taliban.

But now Ahadyar is missing. Time Magazine reports that Ahadyar was training in Italy with other Olympic athletes when she disappeared, apparently voluntarily, taking her bags and her passport with her.

"It was quite a surprise to us," a spokesman for the worldwide governing body of track and field told Time. "We don't know where she is. All we know is that she and her bags are gone."

Eurasianet.org reports that Ahadyar is likely seeking asylum in a European country, terrified of death threats she had received from extremists in Afghanistan who oppose women competing in sports. Sadly, those extremists may get their wish of keeping Afghanistan from sending female athletes to Beijing.

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Oleg Ostapenko, from Ukraine, back left, coach of Brazil's artistic gymnastics team, watches Brazilian gymnast Jade Barbosa while she trains at the Center of Excellence for Olympic Gymnastics in Curitiba, southern Brazil, Friday, July 11, 2008. Barbosa, along with athletes Daiane dos Santos, Lais Souza and Daniele Hipolito, are the favorites to represent Brazil in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but Ostapenko would not reveal Brazil's Olympic gymnastics team until the end of July. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Oleg Ostapenko, from Ukraine, coach of Brazil's artistic gymnastics team, helps a Brazilian gymnast at the Center of Excellence for Olympic Gymnastics in Curitiba, southern Brazil, Friday, July 11, 2008. Athletes Daiane dos Santos, Jade Barbosa, Lais Souza and Daniele Hipolito are the favorites to represent Brazil in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but Ostapenko would not reveal Brazil's Olympic gymnastics team until the end of July. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

USA Team manager Davey Johnson, right, tips his cap to the crowd before the start of the All Star Futures baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, Sunday, July 13, 2008. Johnson will manage the US Olympic baseball team in Beijing. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

** ALTERNATIVE CROP OF XSI102 ** Athletes of the Brazilian artistic gymnastic team, train at the Center of Excellence for Olympic Gymnastics in Curitiba, southern Brazil, Friday, July 11, 2008. After the arrival of Ukrainian coach Oleg Ostapenko in 2001, Brazil decided to keep the team in permanent training. Athletes Daiane dos Santos, Jade Barbosa, Lais Souza and Daniele Hipolito are the favourites to represent Brazil in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but Ostapenko would not reveal Brazil's Olympic gymnastics team until the end of July. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Marilyn Okoro celebrates winning the women's 800m final at the British Olympic trials in Birmingham, central England, July 13, 2008. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN)

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Marilyn Okoro celebrates winning the women's 800m final at the British Olympic trials in Birmingham, central England, July 13, 2008. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN)

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Brazil's world champion gymnast Daiane dos Santos, member of Brazil's artistic gymnastic team, trains at the Center of Excellence for Olympic Gymnastics in Curitiba, southern Brazil, Friday, July 11, 2008. Dos Santos, along with athletes Jade Barbosa, Lais Souza and Daniele Hipolito, are the favorites to represent Brazil in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but Brazil's coach Oleg Ostapenko, from Ukraine, would not reveal Brazil's Olympic gymnastics team until the end of July. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

An unidentified gymnast from Brazil's artistic gymnastic team, trains at the Center of Excellence for Olympic Gymnastics in Curitiba, southern Brazil, Friday, July 11, 2008. Athletes Daiane dos Santos, Jade Barbosa, Lais Souza and Daniele Hipolito are the favorites to represent Brazil in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but Brazil's coach Oleg Ostapenko, from Ukraine, would not reveal Brazil's Olympic gymnastics team until the end of July. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Athletes of Brazil's artistic gymnastic team, train at the Center of Excellence for Olympic Gymnastics in Curitiba, southern Brazil, Friday, July 11, 2008. After the arrival of coach Oleg Ostapenko, from Ukraine in 2001, Brazil decided to keep the team in permanent training. Athletes Daiane dos Santos, Jade Barbosa, Lais Souza and Daniele Hipolito are the favorites to represent Brazil in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but Ostapenko would not reveal Brazil's Olympic gymnastics team until the end of July.(AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Brazil's world champion gymnast Daiane dos Santos prepares to train at the Center of Excellence for Olympic Gymnastics in Curitiba, southern Brazil, Friday, July 11, 2008. Dos Santos, along with athletes Jade Barbosa, Lais Souza and Daniele Hipolito, are the favorites to represent Brazil in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but Brazil's coach Oleg Ostapenko, from Ukraine, would not reveal Brazil's Olympic gymnastics team until the end of July.(AP Photo/Andre Penner)