Int'l Olympic body removes Belarusian coaches for bullying sprinter

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) revoked the accreditations of two Belarusian coaches on Friday for bullying the country's sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

"In the interest of the wellbeing of the athletes of the NOC (National Olympic Committee) 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 on Twitter.

National team coaches Artur Shimak and Yury Maisevich had allegedly ordered Tsimanouskaya to board a plane home to Belarus days before after the 24-year-old athlete criticized her team's administration on social media.

"The two coaches were requested to leave the Olympic Village immediately and have done so," the IOC added, noting that they would have the opportunity to appeal the decision.

"I ask the International Olympic Committee for help. I was put under pressure and they are trying to forcibly take me out of the country without my consent. I asked the IOC to intervene," Tsimanouskaya previously said in a video posted on the Telegram channel of the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation (BSSF).

The BSSF is a group created by sports officials and athletes in 2020 to support athletes repressed, sacked, or excluded for their political views.

Tsimanouskaya was in a hotel near the airport on Sunday night and made contact with Japanese police and the office of the UN high commissioner for refugees.

She ran in the Tokyo 2020 women's 100-meter in athletics and was listed for Monday's 200-meter competition, but did not join the race.

- Tsimanouskaya granted Polish visa

The Polish Deputy Foreign Minister had previously said on Twitter that his country had issued a humanitarian visa for Tsimanouskaya.

"Kryscina Tsimanouskaya a Belarusian athlete is already in direct contact with Polish diplomats in Tokyo. She has received a humanitarian Visa. Poland will do whatever is necessary to help her to continue her sporting career," Marcin Przydacz said.

"Poland always stands for Solidarity," he added.

Slovenia and the Czech Republic had also offered to help Tsimanouskaya, both said separately on social media before she was given a visa by Poland.

Following official procedures at the Polish embassy in Tokyo, Tsimanouskaya arrived in Warsaw on Thursday.