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Belarus Sprinter Tsimanouskaya Says Punishment Awaited Her Back Home
Posted
August 3, 2021
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2:30Now PlayingBelarusian Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, who plans to seek refuge in Europe after accusing team officials of trying to force her to leave the Tokyo Games early, called on Tuesday for international sports authorities to take action.
Tsimanouskaya said she hopes to continue her career, but for now her safety remains a priority.
Speaking exclusively to the Associated Press, she urged sports authorities to take action against her head coach who she said "deprived" her from competing further in the Games.
She said she wanted international sports authorities “to investigate the situation, who gave the order, who actually took the decision that I can’t compete any more.”
At the same time, she said that “the athletes aren’t guilty of anything and they should keep competing, and I don’t think there should be any sanctions against the athletes.”
The standoff began after Tsimanouskaya’s criticism of how officials were managing her team set off a massive backlash in state-run media back home.
The runner said on her Instagram account that she was put in the 4x400m relay even though she has never raced in the event.
She was then barred from competing in the 200 meters.
Tsimanouskaya said her actions were not politically motivated and she only turned to the police as she didn't feel safe returning to Belarus.
The rapid-fire series of events brought international political intrigue to an Olympics that have been more focused on operational dramas, like maintaining safety during a pandemic and navigating widespread Japanese opposition to holding the event at all.
Tsimanouskaya added she was also concerned about her parents, especially her father who she said was very ill, having nearly had a stroke.
"I would like to believe that they will remain safe and that nothing threatens them," she said.
Belarus’ authoritarian government has relentlessly targeted anyone even mildly expressing dissent since a presidential election a year ago triggered a wave of unprecedented mass protests.
And it has also gone to extremes to stop its critics, including recently diverting a plane to the capital of Minsk and arresting a dissident journalist aboard.
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