Image: REUTERS
In the case of sprinter Kristina Timanovskaya, the International Olympic Committee withdrew two Belarusian athletics trainers from their Olympic accreditation. A disciplinary commission set up on Wednesday decided that, the IOC announced on Friday in Tokyo via the short message service Twitter. The provisional measure was taken in the interests of the well-being of the Belarusian athletes who are still in the Olympic city.
The trainers Artur Schimak and Yuri Maisewitsch reportedly left the Olympic village immediately after being asked to do so. The two officials reportedly told Timanovskaya in Tokyo that she had to return to her homeland early because of critical comments on social media.
The 24-year-old had turned to the Japanese police at Haneda Airport and refused the return flight. She has since received a humanitarian visa from Poland and left Tokyo on Wednesday. Timanowskaja gave a press conference in Poland on Thursday. “I feel safe here,” she said in Warsaw. Her husband was also expected there. “I hope that we can stay here, that I can continue my career and that my husband can find work here,” said the sprinter.
