- IOC officials said they have revoked the credentials of two Belarusian running coaches for allegedly trying to force sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya to return to Belarus
- The IOC said a disciplinary commission was established to clarify the circumstances
- The Belarus Olympic Committee said Tsimanouskaya was withdrawn from competition due to her “emotional and psychological state”
TOKYO, Japan: International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials said on Friday that they have revoked the credentials of two Belarusian running coaches for allegedly trying to force sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya to return to Belarus.
Belarus coaches Artur Shumak and Yuri Moisevichin have been asked to leave the Olympic Village in Tokyo.
Early this week, 24-year old Tsimanouskaya sought and received asylum in Poland after claiming Belarus officials tried to force her onto a plane home, stressing she feared for her safety in her home country over her public criticisms of the Belarus Olympic Committee. She left Tokyo on Wednesday.
The IOC said a disciplinary commission was established to clarify the circumstances.
“In the interest of the well-being of the athletes of Belarus who are still in Tokyo, and as a provisional measure, the IOC canceled and removed, last night, the accreditation of the two coaches,” the IOC tweeted on Friday.
Tsimanouskaya previously said she was allowed to compete in the women’s 100-meter race and was scheduled to run in a 200-meter heat when Belarus officials ordered her home, affirming they tried to force her to compete in an event she had not trained for due to doping involving some of her team mates.
At a news conference in Warsaw on Thursday, she stated she felt deprived of the opportunity to compete in her best event, the 200-meter sprint.
I had to go through a lot, but I still hope these were not my last Olympic Games. I hope for at least two more,” Tsimanouskaya told CNN.
At the press conference, she wore a shirt displaying the words, “I just want to run.”
The Belarus Olympic Committee said Tsimanouskaya was withdrawn from competition due to her “emotional and psychological state.”
