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| Commonwealth Games athlete Jimmy Thoronka refused right to stay in UK | Commonwealth Games athlete Jimmy Thoronka refused right to stay in UK |
| (4 days later) | |
| A Sierra Leonean sprinter who went missing after competing at Glasgow's Commonwealth Games and later applied to stay in the UK has had his bid refused. | A Sierra Leonean sprinter who went missing after competing at Glasgow's Commonwealth Games and later applied to stay in the UK has had his bid refused. |
| Jimmy Thoronka, 21, did not return home after the event in the summer of 2014, amid Ebola fears in his home country. | Jimmy Thoronka, 21, did not return home after the event in the summer of 2014, amid Ebola fears in his home country. |
| He was arrested after being found sleeping rough in London, but applied to stay in the UK and was offered a scholarship by a London university. | He was arrested after being found sleeping rough in London, but applied to stay in the UK and was offered a scholarship by a London university. |
| But the Home Office has confirmed his appeal has been rejected. | But the Home Office has confirmed his appeal has been rejected. |
| A spokesman said: "All applications for a visa or leave to remain are considered on their individual merits and in line with the immigration rules. | A spokesman said: "All applications for a visa or leave to remain are considered on their individual merits and in line with the immigration rules. |
| "Mr Thoronka's claim did not meet the required thresholds within the immigration rules." | "Mr Thoronka's claim did not meet the required thresholds within the immigration rules." |
| 'Devastated' | 'Devastated' |
| Almost 4,000 people in Sierra Leone died following the outbreak of Ebola in the country in May 2014. | Almost 4,000 people in Sierra Leone died following the outbreak of Ebola in the country in May 2014. |
| Mr Thoronka's adoptive mother was a nurse who contracted Ebola while she was working. She died and also infected the rest of her family. In total, eight of Mr Thoronka's relatives died. | |
| Described as Sierra Leone's top 100m runner, Mr Thoronka competed in one 4x100m relay at the games but did not win any medals. | Described as Sierra Leone's top 100m runner, Mr Thoronka competed in one 4x100m relay at the games but did not win any medals. |
| The sprinter previously said his visa ran out last year and he had not worked or claimed benefits since. | The sprinter previously said his visa ran out last year and he had not worked or claimed benefits since. |
| Mr Thoronka was arrested in March this year and warned he faced deportation. | Mr Thoronka was arrested in March this year and warned he faced deportation. |
| The University of East London (UEL) said it would offer him a place on a foundation degree course if he was granted a visa to stay in the UK. | The University of East London (UEL) said it would offer him a place on a foundation degree course if he was granted a visa to stay in the UK. |
| But a letter from the Home Office informed Mr Thoronka that his claim was "clearly unfounded" and had been refused. | But a letter from the Home Office informed Mr Thoronka that his claim was "clearly unfounded" and had been refused. |
| He was told he could only appeal against the decision once he has left the UK. | He was told he could only appeal against the decision once he has left the UK. |
| Reacting to the news, Mr Thoronka told the Guardian he was "devastated". | Reacting to the news, Mr Thoronka told the Guardian he was "devastated". |
| He told the paper: "What is going to happen to me if I am forced to return to Sierra Leone? | He told the paper: "What is going to happen to me if I am forced to return to Sierra Leone? |
| "There is no-one to look after me and support me there and the training facilities are very bad. | "There is no-one to look after me and support me there and the training facilities are very bad. |
| "The president of the Athletics Association there said that many of the athletes are just training by themselves, on the tracks at schools which are not very good. I don't think I will make it if I have to go back." | "The president of the Athletics Association there said that many of the athletes are just training by themselves, on the tracks at schools which are not very good. I don't think I will make it if I have to go back." |
| The UEL has an established link with athletics - European 200m champion Adam Gemili recently graduated and double Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Bianca Williams is currently studying there. | The UEL has an established link with athletics - European 200m champion Adam Gemili recently graduated and double Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Bianca Williams is currently studying there. |
| Cambridge University student Richard Dent, who had never met Mr Thoronka, set up a fundraising page following the athlete's plight, which has so far raised £31,465. | Cambridge University student Richard Dent, who had never met Mr Thoronka, set up a fundraising page following the athlete's plight, which has so far raised £31,465. |
| Mr Thoronka, who has a personal best of 10.58 seconds for the 100m, has previously won medals in African competitions and received the Sports Writers of Sierra Leone's best male athlete award in 2013. | Mr Thoronka, who has a personal best of 10.58 seconds for the 100m, has previously won medals in African competitions and received the Sports Writers of Sierra Leone's best male athlete award in 2013. |