Belarusian sprinter says she won't return home

[ASFN Admin]

Withdrawn from the Olympics but refusing to leave. Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya – seen here with Japanese police at a Tokyo airport said she was taken to the airport against her wishes on Sunday (August 1) to board a flight back home after she complained on Instagram about national coaches at the Tokyo Olympics. She said she had sought the protection of Japanese police at Tokyo's Haneda airportso she wouldn’t have to board the flightand told Reuters she did not plan to return to her home country.The Belarusian Olympic Committee said in a statement that coaches had decided to withdraw Tsimanouskaya from the Games on doctors' advice about her "emotional, psychological state". The 24-year-old was due to compete in the women's 200 metres on Monday.She said coaching staff had come to her room on Sunday and told her to packand was taken to the airport before she could run in the 200 metres and 4x400 metres relay on Thursday.She posted this video asking the International Olympic Committee to get involved in her case. The IOC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.A source at the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation - which supports athletes jailed or sidelined for their political views - said Tsimanouskaya planned to request asylum in Germany or Austria on Monday (August 2).

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