The Belarusian sprinter Kryscina Cimanouska, who was to take part in the Olympics, revealed that attempts were made to force her back home for criticizing the coaching staff. As she said at the Tokyo airport, it was supposed to be a punishment for telling the truth. The sprinter said that the order to remove her from the team and send her back to the country came from Minsk.
24-year-old Kryscina Cimanouska was to start on Monday at the distance of 200 meters in the Olympic Games. “I will not return to Belarus,” she declared. She added that she had spoken publicly about the irregularities in the representation many times, and that her return was a punishment for telling the truth.
Cimanouska taken to the airport against her will
According to the Belarusian news channel Nexta, the sprinter was taken to the Haneda airport in Tokyo by representatives of the Belarusian team. Reuters added that the player went there against her will, as a result of a “complaint” from one of the Belarusian coaches.
“Some of our girls did not come to Japan to start the 4×400 meter relay because they did not have enough anti-doping tests done,” said Cimanouska at the Tokyo airport.
Belarusian sprinter Kryscina Cimanouska www.imago-images.de
“Telegraph”: The IOC investigates the news
The video from the airport shows the player in the company of Japanese policemen. The runner admitted that while already at the airport, she contacted a member of the Belarusian diaspora in Japan to be picked up. She also reported to the police, where she asked for protection.
Belarusian Olympian at the Tokyo airportReuters
As the sprinter found out, the order to remove her from the team and send her back to the country came from Minsk.
The Telegraph reported that the International Olympic Committee is investigating the reports.
Main photo source: Reuters