A Belarusian athlete who refused orders to fly home early from the Olympics has left Japan

Belarusian athlete Krystina Timanovskaya boarded a flight understood to be bound for Vienna.

She had been expected to travel directly to Warsaw as Poland has granted her a humanitarian visa. Timanovskaya however changed destination at the last minute, an airport official told reporters.

According to reports, her actions were not a political protest: “I love my country and I didn’t betray my country.”

The athlete voiced fears for her safety after she was forced to pack her belongings and driven to Tokyo’s Haneda airport last week, after criticising her coaches

Timanovskaya was given police protection before being moved to the Polish embassy in Tokyo, where she stayed until departing bound for Narita airport.

Belarus says she was removed from the national team because of her emotional state

However fronting the media on Wednesday, Timanovskaya said she did not suffer from any mental health issues and had not had any conversations with doctors at the Olympic village.

Olympic executives to investigate allegations that Belarusian officials attempted to force sprinter home during Tokyo Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched a formal investigation into the situation of Belarus track athlete Kristina Timanovskaya, following allegations that Belarusian officials attempted to force the sprinter home during her Olympic campaign.

Timanovskaya claims that she was removed from competition against her will after criticising her coaches on social media for entering her into the 4×400 meter relay without her consent. 

Mark Adams, a spokesperson for the IOC, says the committee is waiting to receive all sides of the story with the Belarusian National Olympic Committee expected to release a report. 

“These things take time…but we need to get to the bottom of it,” Adams said in a press conference. 

As quoted by the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation, the track athlete says she isn’t concerned about being removed from the team, but rather fears for her welfare.

“I’m afraid that in Belarus, I may be imprisoned. I’m not afraid of being fired or kicked out of the national team. I worry about my safety.

Kristina Timanovskaya

While Timanovskaya remains in Tokyo, she will soon fly out to Poland after receiving a humanitarian visa following her public plea for help. 

Timanovskaya has told the BBC that she is safe, but unable to comment further. 

More details on the investigation to come.

Written by Rebecca Borg

Belarusian athlete is fearing for her safety after criticising her coaches and being ordered to return home early

The 24-year-old sought police protection when arriving at an airport terminal in Japan so she would not have to board the flight back to Belarus.

She was due to compete in the Women’s 200-metre event this week but had complained online about being forced into another race at short notice.

She told the International Olympic Committee that she was “put under pressure to compete” and has asked for urgent assistance.

The IOC says it is seeking clarification from Belarusian officials who earlier said she was removed due to her poor “emotional and physical condition”.

State media has criticised the athlete saying she lacks “team spirit” whilst several other countries including the Czech Republic and Poland have offered her refuge.

It comes as the nation’s leaders cracked down on anti-government protestors, with some national-level athletes stripped of funding, cut from national teams and arrested.