蜜芽传媒

The Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya has voiced fears for her safety as she refused an order to fly home early from the Olympics for criticising her coaches. She sought police protection at the airport so she would not have to board the flight.

Hanna Liubakova is a Belarusian journalist. She told Newsday:

鈥淎 few days ago she publicly objected to the decision of the national sports team of Belarus. They tried to force her to enter the women's 400m relay and she usually does 100m. She expressed concerns over Instagram and she was very vocal. Then the sports authorities got very angry, and she was forced to pack and she was told she could no longer participate."

"She was told the decision was taken on a higher level than the Ministry of Sports - perhaps Lukashenko or his close circle. I think there are serious reasons for her to be fearful about coming back to Belarus. Since August, dozens of athletes have faced repression in Belarus for their position who were fired or who were jailed.鈥�

Photo: Krystsina Tsiumanouskaya is escorted by police officers at Tokyo airport (Reuters)

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