IOC bans two coaches involved in forced return of Belarusian track athletes from Olympics

▲Christina Chimanujska (center) [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Two coaches from the Belarus national team involved in the case of Belarusian track and field athlete Kristina Tsimanuskaya (24), who sought asylum in Poland, have been expelled from the Olympics.

According to AFP on the 6th, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it has revoked the Olympic participation rights of coaches Artur Shumak and Yuri Maysevich, who were involved in the attempt to forcibly repatriate Tsimanuskaya to Belarus.

The IOC explained that this measure was taken for the well-being of the Belarusian athletes still remaining in Tokyo.

During her participation in the Tokyo Olympics, Tsimanuskaya posted criticism of her country's track and field coaching team on social media (SNS) and was ordered by Belarusian authorities to return home forcibly. Refusing to comply, Tsimanuskaya applied for asylum and sought refuge at the Polish embassy in Tokyo.

After receiving a humanitarian visa from Poland, Tsimanuskaya left Tokyo Narita Airport and, for security reasons, traveled via Vienna, Austria, arriving in Poland on the 4th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.