Belarusian sprinter who defected at the Tokyo Olympics cleared by World Athletics to compete for Poland


Belarusian sprinter who defected at the Tokyo Olympics cleared by World Athletics to compete for Poland

Belarusian sprinter, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, who defected at the Tokyo Olympics cleared by World Athletics to compete for Poland.

Tsimanouskaya complained against the national team coaches decision to enter her into the 4x400m relay which is not her preferred distance and was then removed from the Olympics and was being sent back to Belarus but refused to board the flight. She defected to Poland and they granted her citizenship in 2022. 

A World Athletics Nationality Review Panel said “The National Review Panel agreed to waive the 3-year waiting period starting from the date of application (12.06.23) on the basis the athlete last represented Belarus (BLR) on 30 July 2021, at the Olympic Games, Tokyo (JPN) and that the athlete has not competed in national representative competitions for two years.” 

Tsimanouskaya said on Instagram “I'm extremely happy but I'm experiencing strange emotions because everything has happened so fast and suddenly. There is a chance that I will go to the World Championships in Budapest.”

You may also like

View All

World Aquatics becomes first international federation to expel athletes involved in Enhanced Games

World Aquatics has announced that it will expel athletes involved in the 2026 Enhanced Games which promotes performance-enhancing drugs that are prohibited by global anti-doping regulations

Read More

World Boxing to introduce compulsory sex testing from July

World Boxing has announced that it will implement compulsory sex testing for all boxers starting from July 2025

Read More

Judge soon to determine solo verdict in Canadian hockey sexual assault case after expelling jury

Judge, Justice Maria Carroccia, expelled the jury involved in a Canadian hockey sexual assault case due to a complaint about the defence attorneys’ behaviour, and will soon determine the verdict alone

Read More

Newsletter Signup

Please enter your email address below: