A weightlifter from Papua New Guinea has denied an allegation of sexual assult that led to him being detained by police in Glasgow but still allowed to compete in the Commonwealth Games on Sunday.
Toua Udia, 22, who lifted in the men’s 77kg category at the Clyde Auditorium on Sunday afternoon, reportedly spent the night in a cell after being charged over an incident involving another man in a toilet at a Tesco store near the athletes’ village.
He was due to front court on Friday after being released on bail and said he would plead his innocence.
“It was an accident,” Udia said after lifting 125kg in the snatch and 163kg in the clean and jerk for a combined 288kg on Sunday.
“I don’t want to spoil my reputation.”
Scotland’s Sunday Mail newspaper reported that Udia was arrested last Monday for allegedly molesting the man and held in custody overnight before appearing at Glasgow Sherriff Court on Tuesday.
Udia said he was glad that he was permitted to remain in the athletes’ village and to compete rather than be sent home.
However, he said he was hoping for better in his event on Sunday. He finished second in group B of the 77kg class, but the top-rated lifters in the division in group A were scheduled to lift at the Clyde Auditorium on Sunday night and were expected to dominate the medals.
“I’m disappointed but you can’t repeat it. I wanted to pass the 300kg mark, which I have lifted before,” Udia said. “I’m happy I came second in the group.”
Udia hails from Port Moresby but said he had been based recently in New Caledonia.
“I’ve been there for about a year in preparation for these Games. I’m on a training scholarship there,” he said.
GLASGOW, (THE AGE)
