The International Olympic Committee (IOC) expressed its "shock" over the execution of a young Iranian wrestler in relation to the murder of a public sector worker during anti-government protests back in 2018.

On Saturday, Navid Afkari was executed at a prison in southern Iranian, something the IOC labeled as "very sad news".

"The execution of wrestler Navid Afkari in Iran is very sad news. The IOC is shocked by this announcement today."

"In letters, Thomas Bach, the IOC President, had made direct personal appeals to the Supreme Leader and to the President of Iran this week and asked for mercy for Navid Afkari, while respecting the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

"It is deeply upsetting that the pleas of athletes from around the world and all the behind-the-scenes work of the IOC, together with the NOC of Iran, United World Wrestling and the National Iranian Wrestling Federation, did not achieve our goal. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Navid Afkari."

27-year-old Afkari was found guilty of "voluntary homicide" for stabbing to death Hossein Torkman, on August 2, 2018, according to the Iranian judiciary.