Stunning Developments at Tokyo Olympics 2020 as Belarusian Coaches Sent Packing Home

Published 08/07/2021, 10:45 AM EDT

Over the past two weeks, organisers of the Tokyo Olympics have revoked accreditations relentlessly. Most of them were due to breach of COVID-19 protocols. However, organizers revoked the accreditations of two Belarusian officials for a different reason.

They saw their accreditations revoked after forcing sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya to leave the Olympic Village early.

IOC issues statement after revoking Belarusian officials’ accreditations in the Tokyo Olympics

Article continues below this ad

Tsimanouskaya took part in the women’s 100m category at the Games this year. Although she clocked an impressive 11.47s, she missed out qualifying for the semifinals by just 0.13s. After the performance, however, she found herself amid a stunning controversy.

The 24-year-old revealed her team’s officials tried to force her to compete in the women’s 4x400m relay on social media. While she called out the officials, two of them forced her to leave Tokyo early. The two officials in question are Artur Shumak, deputy director of the national track-and-field training center, and Yuri Moisevich, the head coach of the national team.

Hence, the organisers revoked their accreditations and sent them back home. A statement from the IOC read, “In the interest of the wellbeing of the athletes of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus who are still in Tokyo and as a provisional measure, the IOC cancelled and removed last night the accreditations of the two coaches, Mr A. Shumak and Mr Y. Moisevich.”

“The two coaches were requested to leave the Olympic Village immediately and have done so. They will be offered an opportunity to be heard.”

“It Was a Fight to Get Here” – Allyson Felix Opens Up on Pregnancy Struggles After 4x400m Gold Medal

Tsimanouskaya sought asylum in Poland after the Games

Article continues below this ad

In a stunning development, she learned she could not return home because of the unrest in Belarus. Hence, she headed to Poland in order to stay away from trouble.

During a press conference in Warsaw, the 24-year-old admitted she wanted to stay away from any form of politics. She said, “I don’t know anything about politics. I never was in politics.”

Article continues below this ad

Although she is currently in Poland, whether she will head back to Belarus in the coming days is still unknown.

WATCH STORY: Tokyo Olympics 2020: Day Fourteen Medal Tally Update – China and USA Lead

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Sanket Nair is an F1 Author at EssentiallySports. A Sports Management student, he is a huge fan of Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo and hopes to see Red Bull break Mercedes' dominance and win the World Championship soon. Sanket has been hooked to the sport ever since he watched the battle for the 2010 World Championship go down to the wire at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Stunning Developments at Tokyo Olympics 2020 as Belarusian Coaches Sent Packing Home

IOC issues statement after revoking Belarusian officials’ accreditations in the Tokyo Olympics

Trending

Worried Coaches Denied Simone Biles’ Paris Olympics Appeal After Twisties Trauma

‘Thought Charlie Was the Real Deal’: Tiger Woods’s Son Taunted by Golf World as Rival Prodigy Steals the Show

“Jamie F**ked Up”- Fans React as Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson’s JRE Episode Is Deleted in Minutes

“See It on Camera”: Cody Rhodes Reveals Roman Reigns’ Unscripted Three-Word Line During WrestleMania Match

7’4 Victor Wembanyama, Accused of Disrespecting Knicks Star, Gets MVP Shout-Out From Unbothered Jalen Brunson

Tsimanouskaya sought asylum in Poland after the Games