Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya refused an order
to fly home early from the Tokyo Olympics after being thrown out of the team
for criticising her coaches.
Tsimanouskaya said that she was forced to pack before being
taken to the airport in Tokyo against her will. She got herself police
protection at the airport so she would not have to board the flight.
“I think I am safe. I am with the police,” the
sprinter was quoted as saying by BBC, as she was pictured surrounded by
officers.
Tsimanouskaya was due to compete in the women’s 200m event
on Monday. She had complained on social media about being entered into another
race at short notice. The sprinter said she was “put under pressure”
by the team officials to return home and sought the help of the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) in the matter.
“They are trying to get me out of the country without
my permission,” she said in a video posted on the Telegram channel of the
Belarusian Sports Solidarity Foundation (BSSF), a group that supports athletes
jailed or sidelined for their political views, BBC reported.
The IOC in a statement said that it was seeking
clarification from Belarussian officials – who earlier said she was taken off
the team because of her “emotional and psychological condition”.
“She has told us she feels safe,” IOC said after
speaking with Tsimanouskaya . The flight she was supposed to be on took off
without her on board. BSSF’s Anatol Kotau said that Tsimanouskaya is now safe
and in police protection.
“The police are securing safety for her right
now,” he was quoted by BBC as saying. Kotau added that the sprinter was not
sure where she would spend the night.
Tsimanouskaya had earlier alleged in a video posted online
that she was entered into this Thursday’s 400m relay event at short notice by her
team officials. She said it was done after some teammates were found to be
ineligible to compete.
The Belarussian state media criticised her after she posted
the video, with ONT television channel saying that she lacked “team
spirit”.
