Two Belarusian officials have been kicked out of the Olympic Games for their role in the alleged plot to sent sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya back to Belarus.
After criticizing national sporting authorities, Tsimanouskaya, 24, said Belarusian representatives tried to forcibly return her to her native country during the Olympic Games.
Belarusian coaches Yury Moisevich and Artur Shumak had their accreditation stripped and were asked to leave the Olympic Village and did so without incident late Thursday night, the International Olympic Committee announced.
BELARUSIAN OLYMPIC SPRINTER SEEKING ASYLUM IN POLAND SAYS ‘PUNISHMENT’ AWAITED HER RETURN
Days earlier, Tsimanouskaya criticized the Belarusian national sporting authorities for entering her into a race without her consent. She was set to compete in the women’s 200 meters but was barred from doing so and was put in the 4×400 relay, even though she had never raced in the event.
In response to her criticism, team officials “made it clear that, upon return home, I would definitely face some form of punishment,” she told the Associated Press on Tuesday. “There were also thinly disguised hints that more would await me.”
“In the interest of the wellbeing of the athletes of the NOC of Belarus who are still in Tokyo and as a provisional measure, the IOC cancelled and removed last night the accreditations of the two coaches, Mr. A. Shimak and Mr. Y. Maisevich,” the IOC said.
The Belarusian National Olympic Committee confirmed that the coaches were removed and that the investigation is ongoing, though they noted that the group “reserve[s] the right to appeal against the decision.”
“We remain committed to continuing the dialogue and are working in close contact with the IOC to clarify all the circumstances of the decision,” they added. “The NOC Belarus shall continue to defend and protect the interests of all Belarusian athletes and coaches from any forms of discrimination, if any.”
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In order to stay in Tokyo, Tsimanouskaya approached local police officers and ultimately sought asylum in Poland, which is where she has reunited with her husband, according to Reuters.
Tsimanouskaya has been offered a humanitarian visa to Poland, according to Polish foreign ministry official Marcin Przydacz, who said that she “is free to pursue her sporting career in Poland if she so chooses.”
