Belarusian Kristina Tsimanoskaya, 24, who was supposed to compete in the 200m on Monday, asked Japanese police for protection to avoid being sent on a flight to Belarus, in a measure stemming from criticism from the athletes. From the coaches themselves.
Tsimanoskaya told Reuters he had to seek protection from the police at Tokyo airport to avoid forced boarding. “I will not return to Belarus,” he said in a letter sent to Reuters by mail. cable.
Tsimanoskaya explained that the coach visited her in her room, from the Olympic village, and ordered her to pack her bags, after being transported to the airport by representatives of the Belarusian Olympic team.
The Belarusian Olympic Committee, which did not immediately respond to questions posed by Reuters, confirmed in an official statement that the decision to exclude Tsimanskaya from the Olympic Games was supported by the opinion of doctors who advised the athlete to withdraw from the competition. Because of Tsimanouskaya’s emotional state.
“I think I’m safe with the police,” Tsimanoskaya said after a Haneda airport police officer confirmed he was with the Belarusian Olympic athlete in Terminal 3:
A source at the Belarus Foundation for Sports Solidarity, an organization that defends athletes who are detained or ostracized for political reasons or opinions, said Tsimanoskaya plans to seek political asylum in Germany or Austria on Monday.
The Belarusian sprinter says she is asking for help from the International Olympic Committee https://t.co/laClpAjbLU pic.twitter.com/yY9hmy2vv8
– Reuters August 1, 2021
In a video posted by that institution, number cableTsimanskaya called for the participation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). An IOC spokesperson confirmed that officials were aware of the situation and had already contacted the Belarusian Committee to request clarification.
Tsimanoskaya competed in the women’s 100m on Friday and was supposed to compete in the 200m and 4x400m relay, but claims she was fired after Belarus coaches were accused of negligence on Instagram.
Tsimanouskaya complained about being included in the relay race after some of the team’s players were sent off for not coming againstSteroids enough.
“The coach included me in the 4x400m without my knowledge. I talked about this publicly and the coach informed me that I was disqualified by an order from above,” he said. Tsimanskaya, adding that he then contacted people from the Belarusian diaspora in Japan to avoid returning to their country of origin..
Kristina Tsimanoskaya (BLR) won the gold medal on the finish line of the 200m final. ?????? # Naples 2019 #ToBeUnique # University
?????? Watch universities on https://t.co/8XfcaBi162 From 3 to 14 July! ????? pic.twitter.com/kkNpUBwOMd
– FISU (FISU) July 11, 2019
The leader of the Belarusian opposition (exiled) Svyatlana Tsikhanoskaya, who requested the help of the International Olympic Committee, thanked the “rapid intervention”, reminding on the social network Twitter that “Kristina Tsimanoskaya is entitled to international protection and continuity in the Olympic Games.” An investigation into the “violation of the rights of athletes” in Belarus.
“Writer. Communicator. Award-winning food junkie. Internet ninja. Incurable bacon fanatic.”