Police say the four Ethiopian runners who went missing during the IAAF Championships last week have defected because they fear returning to their home country. 18-year-old Zeyituna Mohammed says she and her teammates are too afraid to return because of widespread civil unrest.
The report confirms what many had suspected — that the athletes' disappearance was part of a plan to defect from Ethiopia.
Police say the athletes are permitted to stay in the U.S. under the terms of their visas. No time limit was given.
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