Japan: Belarusian sprinter Timanovskaya asks IOC for help over deportation

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Mandatory credit: BSSF

Belarusian sprinter Kristina Timanovskaya released a video on Sunday in Tokyo appealing to the IOC for political asylum as Minsk had decided to take her out of the Olympics and bring her back home after she publicly criticised her coaches.

“I ask the International Olympic Committee for help. I am under pressure and they are trying to take me out of the country without my consent. I ask the International Olympic Committee to interfere,” – said the athlete in the statement published by the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation (BSSF) on Telegram.

Representatives of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus (NOC) claimed that Timanovskaya was going to leave the Olympics because of her “emotional and psychological state.”

The IOC stated its intention to look into the situation and asked the Belarus Olympic Committee to clarify the issue. Later the IOC tweeted that they are negotiating with Timanovskaya and the authorities to determine further actions.

“The IOC and Tokyo 2020 have spoken to Krystsina Tsymanouskaya directly tonight. She is with the authorities at Haneda airport and is currently accompanied by a staff member of Tokyo 2020. She has told us that she feels safe,” the statement said.

On Sunday Tsimanouskaya refused to board a flight back to Minsk after being taken to the airport by Belarusian team managers against her will.

Tsimanouskaya said she was forced to fly home after taking to social media to complain that her coaches picked her to take part in a 400m relay event at short notice – a discipline she’s has not prepared to compete. The 24-year-old Belarusian sprinter was then removed from running the women’s 200-meter race on Monday by the Belarusian team.

SOT, Kristina Timanovskaya, Belarusian sprinter (Russian): “I ask the International Olympic Committee for help. I am under pressure and they are trying to take me out of the country without my consent. I ask the International Olympic Committee to interfere.” *VERTICAL ASPECT RATIO AT SOURCE*

Video ID: 20210801-056

Video on Demand: https://ruptly.tv/videos/20210801-056
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