Two Belarus team coaches have been removed from the Olympics, four days after they were allegedly involved in trying to send sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya back to their country.
The International Olympic Committee said on Friday it has canceled and removed the credentials of Artur Shimak and Yury Maisevich.
“The two coaches were requested to leave the Olympic Village immediately and have done so,” the IOC said.
It was done as an interim measure during a formal investigation “in the interest of the wellbeing of the athletes,” the Olympic body said.
Shimak and Maisevich continued to have contact with Belarusian athletes after the IOC linked them to taking Tsimanouskaya in a car to the airport to put her on a plane to Belarus.
Tsimanouskaya had criticised team coaches on social media and is now in Poland on a humanitarian visa.
The IOC said Shimak and Maisevich “will be offered an opportunity to be heard” by its disciplinary commission investigating the case.
The row blew up after Tsimanouskaya, who was entered in the 100 and 200 metres, complained about being entered into the 4x400m relay without being consulted.
She said she was "surprised that the situation became such a political scandal because it started out as a sporting issue", adding that "she was "not thinking about political asylum" in EU member Poland.
"I just want to pursue my sporting career," Tsimanouskaya said.
She said she feared for her life if forced back to Belarus, which has witnessed political upheaval after Alexander Lukashenko returned to power last year.
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Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya talks with police officers at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Japan. -
Accreditation card of Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya is seen at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Japan. -
The International Olympic Committee said it had spoken to Tsimanouskaya and that she was being accompanied by a Tokyo 2020 staff member at the airport. -
Tomoko Uraki, member of Japan lawyers network for refugees is stopped by a police officer outside the police station that Krystsina Tsimanouskaya is believed to be inside at Haneda airport in Toko. -
A Reuters photographer saw the athlete standing next to police at the airport. "I think I am safe," Tsimanouskaya said. "I am with the police." -
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Taiga Ishikawa speaks to media after he tried to meet with Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya at Haneda international airport. -
A Belarusian sprinter refused to get on a flight from Tokyo on Sunday after being taken to the airport against her wishes by her team following her complaints about national coaching staff at the Olympic Games. -
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Taiga Ishikawa uses his smartphone after he tried to meet with Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya at Haneda international airport, in Tokyo, Japan. -
Krystsina Tsimanouskaya of Belarus reacts after competing in Heat 6 of the women's 100m at the Tokyo Olympic Games. -
Belarus' Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, far left, had been critical of the her coaches' negligence in Tokyo.
