Tokyo 2020 – ‘The athlete requested our protection’ – IOC on ‘safe and secure’ Belarusian Krystsina Tsimanouskaya

Belarusian athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya has spent the night in an airport hotel in Tokyo, with an International Olympic Committee (IOC) official saying she is “safe and secure” after she alleged her team tried to force her to board a flight home.

The sprinter was due to take part in Monday’s heats for the 200m, but having publicly criticised her coaches, she claims Belarus’ head coach turned up at her room on Sunday and told her to pack her bags.

The country is currently subject to financial sanctions from the UK, European Union and USA over human rights abuses under the leadership of president Alexander Lukashenko. His son, Viktor Lukashenko, is head of the Belarus Olympic Committee.

The national team said in a statement that Tsimanouskaya had been removed from competition because of her “emotional, psychological state” but the athlete says she will not return home.

“She assured us and has assured us that she feels safe and secure,” said IOC spokesperson Mark Adams.

“We’re talking again to her this morning to understand what those next steps could be, what she wants to pursue and we will give her support in that decision. She is in the hands of the authorities at the moment. We have also asked the Belarus NOC for a full written report.

“What I can tell you is that the athlete requested our protection at Haneda Airport, which is why we were able to understand that she was there, and obviously the Tokyo 2020 staff members were there. That’s exactly why we were able to find her there, and no more than that.”

While diplomatic relations between Belarus and the rest of the world are currently shaky, it is the same situation between the country and the IOC, which does not recognise the election of Viktor Lukashenko.

“In terms of whether we’ve done enough, this is a story that’s been going on now with Belarus institutionally now for…