Olympia 2021 - Kristina Timanovskaya: IOC withdraws accreditation for Belarusian coaches

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Kristina Timanovskaya

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Martin Meissner / dpa

In connection with the case of sprinter Kristina Timanovskaya, the International Olympic Committee withdrew their Olympic accreditation from two Belarusian athletics coaches.

A disciplinary commission set up on Wednesday decided that, the IOC in Tokyo announced on 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 has now arrived in Poland, where she gave a press conference 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.

Timanovskaya said he had been put under pressure by head coach Maizeevich and Shumak, deputy head of the national training center.

"You said that if I get up and run away, I would face serious consequences," she told the "world".

A psychologist should also have scared her.

“He told me several times that I had problems with my head and started telling incomprehensible things about manic states.

He explained that people in a condition like me would kill themselves. "

In their case, high-ranking politicians had also intervened.

Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his US counterpart Antony Blinken condemned the Belarusian delegation's actions.

The IOC had already imposed sanctions on the Belarusian NOK last year.

The internationally controversial head of state Alexander Lukashenko had to resign from his position as chairman, and the IOC has refused to recognize his son and successor Viktor.

In addition, the financial contributions are suspended.

Lukashenko has been using police force against the democracy movement in his country, which also includes many athletes, since the 2020 election.

mon / dpa / sid