A live television broadcast in Iran took an unexpected turn when Olympic wrestling champion Alireza Heidari was suddenly removed from the studio mid-programme, following comments about a contentious Olympic match, Donyaye Eqtesad newspaper reported on August 12.

Heidari, appearing as a guest on Iran's sports channel for the Olympic closing ceremony coverage, referred to a "bitter moment" he witnessed at the Paris Games. He specifically mentioned the match between Nahid Kiani and Kimia Alizadeh, using language that appeared to upset programme officials.

Moments after Heidari's remarks, the presenter, glancing off-camera, abruptly bid farewell to the champion.

In an unusual move, Heidari was asked to leave his seat mid-broadcast, without even a commercial break to mask the departure.

The presenter awkwardly stated that officials were "escorting" Heidari out. The wrestler appeared visibly confused, uncertain whether to remove his microphone in the studio or outside.

The incident has sparked discussions on social media about freedom of speech in Iranian sports broadcasting and the sensitivities surrounding athletes who compete against expatriates.

However, Meysam Mohammadzadeh, one of the programme's hosts, has refuted these claims in an interview with Tarafdari news outlet.

"I don't know how such speculation arose," Mohammadzadeh said. "Backstage, Heidari repeatedly mentioned needing to leave due to his recent weight cut for a competition and his crucial sleep routine."

The host explained that Heidari insisted on maintaining his regular sleep schedule, saying, "I sleep at a specific time every night, and it's past that time now. I need to get home soon to avoid disrupting this routine."

Mohammadzadeh added that Tavakoli's surprise at Heidari's departure was due to being unaware of the situation, as they had arrived together.

Kimia Alizadeh, the athlete referenced by Heidari, made headlines when she defected from Iran in 2020, citing the government's "hypocrisy" as her reason for leaving the previous Olympics in Japan. She stood on the refugee team where she won a medal.

Heidari’s comments follow the match between Alizadeh, who is now representing Bulgaria, and Nahid Kiyani Chandeh on August 8, where Chandeh beat her former colleague.

Iranian state media has not yet commented on the incident. The abrupt removal of a national sports hero from live television has raised questions about the limits of acceptable discourse in Iran's tightly controlled media landscape.