In this photo Elnaz Rekabi competes without a hijab at the International Federation of Sport Climbing s Asia Championship in Seoul, October 16, 2022. This screen capture was taken from a video courtesy of the International Federation of Sport Climbing s Youtube channel.
Farsi-language media outside of Iran warned she may have been forced to leave early by Iranian officials and could face arrest back home, which Tehran quickly denied.
The Instagram post on the account of Elnaz Rekabi on Tuesday said: "I apologize about what I did to make you worry."
The post also claimed that she was rushed due to the time at the appearance, though video of the event in Seoul showed her relaxed before she reached the climbing wall. The post described her as "unintentionally'' not wearing her hijab.
The post also claimed that she was going back to Iran on a prearranged schedule.
The BBC's Persian service, which has extensive contacts within Iran despite being banned from operating there, quoted an unnamed "informed source'' who described Iranian officials as seizing both Rekabi's mobile phone and passport after her appearance.
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