Picture this: you’re set to compete at the pinnacle of world athletics, but instead of support, your own federation allegedly pulls the rug from under you, revoking your training pass in what feels like payback. That’s the storm Belgian heptathlon queen and Anna Hall’s close rival, Nafissatou Thiam, walked into at the World Championships. The three-time Olympic champion admitted she felt a “dark cloud” hanging over her shock withdrawal, while her coach confessed he was “ashamed to be Belgian.” Now that the event is over, Thiam has once again unleashed her fury, reigniting her standoff with the federation.

Nafissatou Thiam took to her Instagram on October 4th and broke her silence on the matter via a post. “I’ve taken the last few weeks to reflect and I chose to think carefully first before talking about what happened,” read the opening words of her post. Thiam also clarified her reason behind speaking out now, “Even though I dread to go and get into the details of all this, my concern about nothing changing in the future goes well beyond my wish to move on as fast as possible. Additionally, so many things have been so wrongly and loudly claimed that I feel the need to set the record straight.”

It all started this summer when she refused to sign the federation’s code of conduct, as she had a number of personal sponsorships, at odds with that of the federation’s. Taking to her Instagram, the athlete shared several stories detailing her side of the controversy and how the federation treated her. In one story, she explained that she had been following the code of conduct, yet was only reminded of the rules and regulations on August 6, well after she had made her requests. Despite participating in discussions, no resolution was reached before the Tokyo Championships.

She further revealed that certain members of the federation attempted to cast her as the villain. “What I have precisely asked from the federation is to be treated as any other athlete of the team in Tokyo, and it was denied to me,” wrote the athlete on her Instagram. Revealing the ordeal she faced, Thiam shared that just five days before her departure to Tokyo, the federation informed her that no pre-camp training could be arranged for her.

Meanwhile, every other athlete received their full pre-camp support, with all facilities covered by the federation. To make matters worse, she was notified via email that her physiotherapist could not be accredited, a serious concern so close to the championships. In the end, she and her team had to arrange everything themselves. Facing constant criticism from the federation, the athlete had to leave the World Championship competition midway through with two disciplines to go.

Thiam, during a presser on September 17th, claimed, “I also saw that it had been said that it was my choice if I hadn’t joined the team, but I want to be very clear: it wasn’t my choice at all and it was imposed on me!” She further revealed that her physiotherapist, who had traveled all the way from South Africa, would be barred from assisting her during the main competition on September 19th and 20th.

Thiam expressed her frustration, saying, “There is also the decision not to accredit my physiotherapist, who is here but cannot assist me in training. It is even more shocking for me because it is truly a decision aimed at negatively influencing my Championship and my preparation.”

For the first time in a decade, Nafissatou Thiam entered a World Championship or Olympic heptathlon without medaling, as the Belgian superstar faced a stormy build-up in Tokyo. Meanwhile, rising phenom Anna Hall seized the spotlight, claiming the U.S.’s first heptathlon gold in 32 years with a staggering 6,888 points, setting the stage for a sizzling new rivalry. Well, her not clinching a medal this time can be attributed to the treatment she received from the federation. Interestingly, the federation’s stance was completely different.

Belgian Athletics Federation has a completely different story on the Nafissatou Thiam fiasco

The Belgian Athletics Federation painted a completely different picture. Jessica Mayon, president of LBFA, totally dismissed Nafissatou Thiam’s claim, stating that they had written proof of the hubbub where she was treated well by the federation, “I have written proof that it is not true. She was welcome (at the pre-camp). There was someone there to help her prepare for her camp, who was already there. So it is absolutely not true.”

Mayon added that the Belgian athletes generally enjoy full access to the top-notch medical team, which also includes an excellent doctor and experienced physiotherapists. While the Federation emphasized that they brought a contingent of 47 athletes, Mayon acknowledged that distinguishing individual cases can sometimes get complicated.

She further added, “If the discussion had been truly open and frank on both sides, a compromise could have been reached on the subject of image rights. In football, they all wear the national team kit and yet, they undoubtedly have obligations sometimes linked to private partners. It’s an issue that lives in a lot of federations… and they always manage to find solutions that suit everyone.”

Different stories from different individuals; however, Nafissatou Thiam has her coach backing her, who insists the federation was completely against her. Will the higher authorities take action? Only time will tell.