The Kazakhstan Cycling Federation has responded to reports that a Kazakh coach is wanted in India on rape charges, infohub.kz reports.
The Times of India reported that a 34-year-old coach from Kazakhstan who worked with the Indian national cycling team has been charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act over the alleged rape of a minor cyclist at the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Patiala.
"Patiala police have declared the accused, Maksat Ayazbayev, a former professional road cyclist from Kazakhstan, as wanted. According to Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Harmandeep Singh Hans, his whereabouts have been unknown since the complaint was filed last week. Police have seized his passport and formed two teams to trace him," the publication said.
The Kazakhstan Cycling Federation published a statement on the matter on its official Instagram, saying that in recent years Maksat Ayazbayev had worked professionally outside Kazakhstan under a contract with the Indian side and had been training India's national cycling team.
"His professional activity has recently been linked specifically to the Indian national team. Indian media also report on his work with the Indian team and the preparation of athletes for international competitions. Maksat Ayazbayev currently has no connection to the Kazakhstan national team. The events described in the publications took place on Indian territory during his work with the Indian side and are being considered by Indian law enforcement agencies," the organization said.
The federation added that Indian law enforcement agencies are currently conducting an official investigation.
"According to available information, a criminal case has been opened, and the Indian Cycling Federation has suspended the specialist's activities pending the investigation. We believe it is right not to draw premature conclusions or make assessments until the official investigation is completed and all circumstances of the case are established by India's competent authorities. The Kazakhstan Cycling Federation has no grounds to comment on the circumstances of the investigation conducted by Indian law enforcement agencies and will rely solely on official information from the competent authorities," the statement said.
The federation added that it is important to separate the actions of an individual from the activities of Kazakhstan's national cycling and its national team.
"We ask media representatives and social media users to take this information into account when preparing and disseminating publications and to avoid unjustified association of this situation with the Kazakhstan national team. A person's guilt can be established exclusively in the manner prescribed by law, based on the results of an official investigation and trial," the organization said.
A NUR.KZ correspondent has sent a request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.