Two brothers were arrested and appeared in court in Zimbabwe on Friday accused of carrying out an armed robbery at the home of the parents of new International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, where they are alleged to have stolen several sports memorabilia belonging to Ms Coventry.
John and Mike Nhongwe are accused of stealing $90,000 (£69,768) in cash and property and holding Miss Coventry's parents at gunpoint, police said.
The stolen items included jewellery, a firearm and some memorabilia linked to the former Olympic swimmer Coventry's career, as well as $15,000 (£11,628) in cash.
Police and prosecutors gave no details of the memorabilia, but state media reported that it included some of Ms Coventry's Olympic uniform. The robbery is said to have taken place on March 10.
Ms Coventry, 41, was elected as the new IOC president on Thursday in Greece, becoming the first woman and first African to hold arguably the most powerful post in world sport.
She is a two-time Olympic swimming champion and competed in five Summer Olympics before retiring in 2016.
She has served as Zimbabwe's sports minister since 2018 and is expected to return to her home country on Sunday, according to the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.
Police say the Nhongwe brothers tied up Ms Coventry's parents with shoelaces at their home in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare. It is not known whether Ms Coventry was in Zimbabwe at the time of the latest IOC election campaign.
Details of the stolen Olympic gear and whether it has been returned are expected to be presented in court on Saturday, when the two defendants are due to appear again to face formal charges and a verdict.
The magistrate ordered them to remain in custody pending the court hearing.
Ms Coventry is Africa's most decorated Olympian and will begin an eight-year term as president of the world Olympic body in June. She will succeed Thomas Bach of Germany, who has been IOC president since 2013.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
