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Poland grants humanitarian visa to Belarus Olympian Krystsina Tsimanouskaya

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Ivan Romano/Getty Images

Belarusian Olympian Krystsina Tsimanouskaya has received a humanitarian visa from Poland.

The move comes after Tsimanouskaya refused to board a flight from Tokyo on Sunday. The sprinter was reportedly taken to the airport against her will after criticizing the Belarusian coaching staff.

“I will not return to Belarus,” Tsimanouskaya told Reuters in a message over Telegram.

The Olympian also pleaded with the IOC to assist her, stating in a video posted to Telegram that she was being forced out of Japan without her consent.

Tsimanouskaya was scheduled to race in the 200m heat on Monday and the 4×400 relay on Thursday. The Belarusian was outspoken about being added to the relay team at the last minute, without sufficient training for the event.

The Belarusian Olympic Committee released a statement claiming that Tsimanouskaya had exited the competition due to her “emotional and psychological state.”

Tsimanouskaya refutes the claim, stating that she was removed from the team because of her public statements regarding “the negligence of our coaches.”

The Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation confirmed to the AP that it had obtained a ticket for Tsimanouskaya to Warsaw on Aug. 4.