Five Cameroonian athletes have gone missing from their accommodation at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, team officials have confirmed.
Press attache Simon Molombe told the BBC officials viewed it as “desertion” and that the missing athletes had been reported to Australian police.
The three weightlifters and two boxers were last seen at different times on Monday and Tuesday, he said.
Games organisers said they were working with authorities on the Gold Coast.
Cameroon named the missing athletes as weightlifters Olivier Matam Matam, Arcangeline Fouodji Sonkbou and Petit Minkoumba, and boxers Christian Ndzie Tsoye and Simplice Fotsala.
“The authorities are very disappointed with the deserters – some did not even compete,” Mr Molombe said.
“The pious hope is that they come back to the village and travel home with the others.”
The Australian Federal Police had been notified of the disappearances, according to Kate Jones, a Queensland state government minister.
In 2012, seven Cameroonian athletes disappeared while in London for the Olympics.