Investigation launched over photo showing Turkish national wrestler mopping floors

ÇANKIRI

The Sports Ministry on Jan. 11 launched an investigation into the circumstances that led to national wrestler Seyfullah Karadeniz having to mop the floors at the provincial Directorate of Youths and Sports in the Central Anatolian province of Çankırı.

Doğan News Agency on Jan. 10 reported that Karadeniz, a member Turkey’s National Deaf Wrestling Team, was working as subcontracted worker at the directorate, publishing photographs showing him cleaning the floors there.

Following an outcry over the image, Çankırı Governor Vali Aktaş said the Sports Ministry had assigned an inspector to investigate the matter at the scene. Aktaş also hosted Karadeniz in his office on Jan. 11.

“I hope this incident does not lead to a negative perception about our province, because this has nothing to do with Çankırı,” he said, adding that he learned about the photo, “like everyone else, through the media.”

“We yesterday received news that upset us both as officials and as children of the Turkish nation. Once they come, the inspector will undertake the probe of this matter. Whoever is at fault, what is needed to be done will be done. And we will immediately make sure that our brother [Karadeniz] is reassigned to another job,” Aktaş stated.