The present study aimed to identify and analyze obstacles to the sustainable development of sports in Iran. This qualitative study was conducted using a thematic analysis approach. The participants included 24 senior managers and experts from the Ministry of Sports and Youth, presidents and secretaries of sports federations, university professors, and guild representatives active in the sports sector, who were selected through purposive and theoretical sampling. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed following the stages of thematic analysis, including familiarization with the data, initial coding, identification and review of themes. Theoretical saturation was achieved after 24 interviews. From the data analysis, 98 initial codes were extracted, which ultimately led to the identification of 25 core concepts and 7 overarching categories: inefficiency in strategic focus and macro-level thinking, insufficient and substandard infrastructure, ineffective human resource processes, destructive cultural and social behaviors, misaligned general and macro environments, non-constructive specialized environments, and imbalanced growth of sports dimensions. The conceptual model revealed that these categories, through systemic fragmentation and the reproduction of the cycle of inefficiency are the main barriers to achieving sustainable sports development in Iran. Sustainable sports development in Iran requires the simultaneous and coordinated removal of barriers across all seven categories, as well as the establishment of systemic cohesion among the strategic, infrastructural, human, cultural, and environmental levels. Without this integrated approach, the country’s sports sector will be unable to play its strategic role in achieving the national sustainable development goals. The findings of this research can serve as a guiding framework for policymakers and executive sports managers in the country to help break the cycle of inefficiency in sports, and ultimately pave the way for moving towards sustainable and balanced development of sports in the country.