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“Needs a detailed investigation of the circumstances” (daily newspaper Junge Welt)

Petr David Josek / AP / dpa

Put under pressure? Kristina Timanowskaja in the 100-meter sprint (Tokyo, July 30, 2021)

Belarusian sprinter Kristina Timanowskaja apparently expressed criticism internally in Tokyot. Allegedly she was set up against her will for the 4 x 400 meter relay. She was not allowed to start last Monday. Instead, she should presumed back against her will after Belarus be flown out. After her refusal, she found refuge in the Polish embassy in Tokyo and got a so-called humanitarian visa for Poland. Her husband has probably gone to Ukraine in the meantime. Has there ever been a similar incident at the Olympics?

It is by no means uncommon for athletes to withdraw from their teams or ask for asylum on the occasion of major sporting competitions. The Belarusian athlete seems to be behaving a little differently from what we know so far. According to reports, she had to save herself to the Polish embassy after she was abducted home from Tokyo because of her criticism of coaches and officials and threatened repression there.

Is it then Compatible with the Olympic Charter that athletes the Coach or sportfpublicly criticize unionists from their own delegation at the Olympic Games?

Internal criticism does not conflict with the Olympic Charter. At major sporting events, there has already been a row within the team, so that individual athletes had to leave early. Such incidents in individual delegations should not be confused with political protests by athletes, which the IOC only partially tolerated after heated discussions.

Timanovskaya hat called the International Olympic Committee, IOC, for help. Is it interference in an internal matter of the Belarusian Delegation or for the legitimate help of the Committees to protect an Olympian who fears for her safety?

The IOC is responsible for the safety of all people in the Olympic Village and at least shares responsibility for the safety of all people accredited at the Games. It is absolutely clear that the IOC must take care of an athlete in this very special situation and, should the allegations be true, protect her. In accordance with the rule of law, this requires a detailed examination of the circumstances.

Even kidnapping by people was quick of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko the speech. The IOC could possibly yes make use of your “domiciliary rights” and immediately exclude the Belarusian team or at least the coaches or officials concerned from the games, or?

Punishing the Belarusian athletes would be completely wrong and would certainly be the last thought that comes to the mind of the IOC officials. The IOC could exclude individual members of the Belarusian team from the Games if they violated the Olympic Charter. Their accreditation for the games would have to be withdrawn immediately if the kidnapping allegations were confirmed. However, this requires clear evidence.

In your opinion, what measures would be appropriate to prevent Olympians from threatening repression after their return home?

Really preventing this is probably an impossibility for the IOC. But it has the ability to keep autocrats away from the Olympic Games and no longer tolerate them as President of the National Olympic Committee. As happened with Lukashenko after he had brutalized his own athletes in the country. The international associations are also challenged by not awarding their competitions and championships to regimes like the one in Minsk and thus sending out clear political signals.

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