Scandal with runner Timanovskaya: IOC threatened Minsk with new sanctions

“We have asked the National Olympic Committee of Belarus to provide us with a full report, and after receiving it, we will begin to study this issue with regard to whether any action should be taken”, - the Dozhd TV channel quotes Adams as saying.

The official noted that over the past year, the IOC has made many rather tough decisions in relation to the NOC of Belarus.

“So we need to see what they have to say before taking action”, - Adams said. According to him, the situation with Timanovskaya is "an unpleasant incident". Pending the completion of the investigation, he asked to "avoid speculation and speculation".

Earlier it became known that the Belarusian authorities decided to deport from Japan the representative of the national team of Belarus Kristina Timanovskaya (pictured) a day before the start of the Olympic Games at a distance of 200 meters. Belarusian sports officials decided not to allow Timanovskaya to compete at all; instead, a plane ticket was urgently purchased for her.

Recall that on August 2, the runner was supposed to compete at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Earlier, the athlete spoke critically about Belarusian officials for changes in the composition of the team at a distance of 4 × 400 meters at the Tokyo Olympics.

- I just learned the news that at the Olympics I will also run the third race - the relay race 4 x 400 meters. - It turns out that our very cool bosses decided, as usual, everything for us. They screwed up with girls who do not have enough tests to fly to the first in their life and decided to make a knight's move. But why should we be responsible for these shoals? Why should I solve these problems? At the same time, I write to the head of the team, but he does not answer me, - said Timanovskaya.

At the same time, representatives of the Olympic Committee of Belarus said that the athlete stops performing due to her "psychological state." Timanovskaya at the airport turned to the Japanese police for help and stated that she intends to seek asylum at the Austrian embassy in Tokyo. The athlete complained to the IOC, claiming that she was under pressure.

On the eve of the Games, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that athletes who do not win awards should not return.

After an incident with an attempted forced deportation, the athlete was placed in a hotel located at Tokyo's Haneda airport. Now negotiations with Timanovskaya are conducted by the director of the organization for relations with national Olympic committees, James Macleod. According to the IOC, “the number one task is its safety. We need to listen to her and support her decision, ”the organization said.

As the leader of the Belarusian opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya commented on what happened at the Olympics, the situation with the athlete is "proof that any Belarusian athlete sent to the Olympics can become a hostage if he finds the courage to speak."

According to sports expert Dmitry Navosha, the decision to withdraw Timanovskaya from the Olympics was made by Alexander Lukashenko himself. He considers the desire to "punish at any cost" his "signature style." According to Navosha, Lukashenko is generally aggressive towards Belarusian athletes due to the small number of medals won at the Olympics.

Earlier, the IOC suspended representatives of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus from participating in the Games. The ban on participation in the Olympics affected, among other things, the country's President Alexander Lukashenko and his eldest son Viktor.

As the head of the IOC Thomas Bach said, the International Olympic Committee decided to temporarily ban all members of the leadership of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus from participating in all IOC tournaments, including the Summer Olympic Games.

Commenting on the decision, the IOC explained that the leadership of the NOC of Belarus does not adequately protect athletes from political discrimination. This attitude violates the provisions of the Olympic Charter and negatively affects the reputation of the entire Olympic Movement.

The eldest son of Lukashenko, 45-year-old Viktor, who fell under the sanctions, is the first vice-president of the NOC of Belarus and is a member of the country's Security Council. The president’s middle son, 40-year-old Dmitry, is also a member of the NOC and heads the republican association “Presidential Sports Club”. Lukashenko's youngest son, 16-year-old Nikolai, who often accompanies his father at official events, has not yet been officially employed.

The negative reaction of the international community towards Lukashenka and his inner circle was formed after the controversial presidential elections were held in the country on August 9. The CEC of Belarus awarded the victory to the incumbent head of state Alexander Lukashenko, who took this post for the sixth time in a row. Meanwhile, observers reported numerous falsifications. Many residents of the country believe that it was not Lukashenka who won the election, but his main rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. Citizens of the country, dissatisfied with the official voting results, continue to take to the streets and participate in protests. They demand the resignation of Lukashenka and the holding of new fair elections in the country. In addition, the protesters demand to stop the police brutality in relation to the participants in peaceful actions.