The Belarusian coach was suspended for insulting dignity and abuse of power

Yury Moisevichthe coach who tried to force the Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya to return to his country during the Tokyo Olympics, he was suspended for 5 years.

The coach’s actions are judged by Integrity Unit in Athletics as “an affront to the dignity of the athlete and an abuse of power.”

He was found guilty of “providing false or inaccurate information on the course of events prior to the athlete’s departure from the Olympic Village” in August 2021.

Because of this, the coach will not be able to work with the athletes until February 2029.

A symbol of democratic dissent

Krystsina Tsimanouskayathe Belarusian 100m and 200m champion, became a symbol of democratic dissidence in his country by defying the authorities at the Tokyo Olympics.

At that moment, the athlete criticized the coaching staff and the Belarusian Athletics Federation on his social networks for including him in the 4×400 meter relay, an event in which he has never competed individually or in teams.

After the publications, Moisevich told the athlete that he had to leave the Olympic Village and return to Belarus.

The athlete was transferred to the airport on August 1, 2021, but refused to board the plane for fear of retaliation in his home country.

Tsimanouskaya request asylum in Poland and obtained a humanitarian visa allowing him to travel to Warsaw. In 2023 he got the Polish nationalitywhich allowed him to once again compete in international events under that country’s flag.

In August 2023 he competed in the Budapest Athletics World Cup, where he reached the 200m semi-finals and achieved fifth place with the 4x100m relay team. Now, at 27 years old, he is preparing to represent his new country in Olympic Games in Paris which will start at the end of July.