Travel ban prevents Pakistan’s #1 triathlete, Shahrez Khan from representing Pakistan on the world triathlon stage

SOLIDARITY STATEMENT: It is deeply concerning that a travel ban has denied Pakistan’s #1 triathlete, Shahrez Khan the chance to participate in the IRONMAN 70.3 world championship in Marbella, Spain this weekend – the pinnacle of world triathlon.

Shahrez currently ranks among the top 5% of IRONMAN athletes globally in the AWA (All World Athlete) category and is the only Pakistani to qualify for the prestigious world championship in Spain.

He is the nephew of former Pakistani Prime Minister and cricketing legend, Imran Khan, who is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence on charges which are widely regarded to be politically motivated.

As regional head of the Australia-based company, Simba Global, Shahrez has strong ties to Australia.

He has participated in seven IRONMAN 70.3 events on four continents to date, including in New Zealand in 2023 and in the Philippines, where he earned his place among the world’s elite endurance athletes by finishing 7th in his age group at the 2025 Puerto Princesa race earlier this year.

On 21 August, Shahrez was barred from leaving the country to participate in IRONMAN 70.3 Tallinn in Estonia, after which he was arbitrarily arrested and imprisoned, falsely implicated in Pakistan’s 9 May riots back in 2023.

The court found no evidence of Shahrez’s involvement in the 9 May 2023 riots and he was released on bail on 5 September—yet his name remains on a passport control list.

Amnesty International described Shahrez’s arrest part of a “political witch hunt” aimed at silencing dissent, and noting further that targeting family members of political leaders and workers has become a worrying trend in Pakistan.

Shahrez’s disqualification from competing in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship is a major setback for Pakistan’s representation in international endurance sports.

“While it’s unfortunate that I will not be able to represent Pakistan, I will choose to put my faith in our justice system,” Shahrez stated in response to the travel ban.

“Endurance is not just for the race, it’s for times like these. I’ll continue to train harder and I look forward to being on the international race circuit soon!”

Shahrez remains deeply committed to showcasing Pakistan on the world stage, not just as an athlete but as a mentor and movement-builder in endurance sports. He envisions a future where Pakistan will host global endurance events.

Brave Media stands in solidarity with Shahrez, and calls for the swift removal of this unjust restriction ahead of international triathlons in Bahrain (December 2025) and Oman (February 2026).

In accordance with principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, every athlete deserves the freedom to travel and represent their nation with pride on the world stage.