According to reports, Japanese police took Alam into custody following the alleged incident on Monday. He was sent back to India on Tuesday without participating in the Para Asian Games. A senior PCI official, who is part of the Indian delegation in Nagoya and handled the situation, confirmed the development to The Times of India (TOI), describing the alleged misconduct as “reprehensible and beyond tolerance.”
The official said there could be “no justification” for such behaviour by an athlete representing the country on the international stage. He added that Alam could face a lifetime ban for bringing disrepute to the entire Indian delegation participating in the Asian Para Games and embarrassing the country before the world.
According to the official, the incident took place on Monday at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel, where the Indian para-swimming team was staying. The alleged incident occurred while a female housekeeping employee was working in the swimmer’s room.
The official said the Local Organising Committee (LOC) informed the office of the Chef de Mission (CDM) that an incident involving alleged sexual harassment and inappropriate touching had taken place at the hotel and that a Indian athlete had been taken into custody by local police.
“When we reached the hotel, the police and senior hotel managers were already present. We were told that the athlete had touched the female housekeeping staff member inappropriately, made sexual gestures, tried to touch her and engaged in sexual aggression. She ran outside and informed her seniors. This is what the police and hotel staff told us,” the official said.
The Indian delegation apologised to the hotel authorities and the employee, the official added. Following the complaint, police took Sheikh into custody and brought him to a local police station. According to the official, the authorities sought to arrest him and formally present him before a court.
The LOC subsequently intervened and asked the Indian delegation to submit a written apology to the employee and ensure that the athlete left Japan. The official said Sheikh was moved to another hotel for the night and booked on the first available flight departing from Nagoya at around 2 pm local time on Tuesday. He was released after the written apology was submitted, according to the official.
The PCI is now considering a lifetime ban, which could bring an end to Alam’s participation in competitive para-swimming under the Indian sporting framework.
ABSOLUTE SHAME, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!😡 Indian para-swimmer Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh has reportedly been detained and deported from Japan following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a hotel staff member during the Asian Para Games 2026. The female staff member was reportedly carrying out his housekeeping duties when she was allegedly touched inappropriately by 40yo Aalam. This is deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable. The Paralympic Committee of India is reportedly considering a lifetime ban, pending a formal hearing. [India Today ]
— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) October 22, 2026
Mohammad Shams Alam Sheikh is an experienced para-swimmer based in Bihar. According to World Para Swimming records, he has previously attained the world No. 1 ranking in the men’s 100-metre butterfly S5 and 50-metre breaststroke SB4 categories.
Sheikh represented India at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, where he won gold medals in the 200-metre and 50-metre breaststroke events. In 2025, he also won gold in the 200-metre breaststroke at the Reykjavik International Games, setting Indian and Asian records.
Despite his previous achievements on the international stage, Sheikh did not get the opportunity to compete at this edition of the Asian Para Games, as he was sent back to India before participating in the event. The allegations have also placed his future in Indian para-sports in question, with the PCI considering disciplinary action that could include a lifetime ban.
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