World Bulletin / News Desk

Another Egyptian kung fu player has flashed a salute that marks the memory of pro-democracy protesters fallen in Rabaa al-Adawiya Square in mid-August, reigniting the controversy about raising the now-iconic symbol by Egyptian athletes.

Hesham Abdel-Hamid raised the "Rabaa Sign" in a show of solidarity with victims of the violent dispersal of a protest camp by supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi during a training session of the Egyptian team partaking in the 12th World Wushu Championships in Malaysia.

Walid Hamed, member of the Egyptian kung fu federation, said that the player would not be penalized because he did not made the gesture during an official game or on the winners' podium. The player could not be reached for comment.

Last month, the Egyptian kung fu federation decided to bar one of its promising players from contesting the world championships in Malaysia for flashing the "Rabaa Sign".

Mohamed Youssef made the gesture as he took the stand to receive the gold medal in the international kung fu championship in the Russian city of St. Petersburg while wearing a yellow T-shirt emblazoned with the sign.

Hamed said that the federation head, Sherif Mustafa, warned the players of raising any political slogans during the games or the winners' podium.

Abdel-Hamid would continue in the tournament as he reached the semi-finals, Hamed said.

The "Rabaa" -- meaning four or the fourth in Arabic -- has become the sign of pro-Morsi sit-in camps which were brutally dispersed on August 14. Hundreds of protesters were killed in the brutal crackdown.