Wed, August 09, 2023

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

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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.”