Belarus athlete under protection in Japan after forced flight claim

TOKYO: A Belarusian Olympic athlete who claimed her team was forcing her to return home spent the night under protection and may be seeking asylum, officials said Monday.

Sprinter Kristina Timanovskaya, 24, missed her chance of competing in Tokyo when the 200 metres heats went ahead without her in the Olympic Stadium.

Japan’s government spokesman Katsunobu Kato said authorities understood Timanovskaya had “expressed a will to seek asylum”, but offered no further details.

Timanovskaya spent the night in an airport hotel after seeking protection late Sunday with Tokyo 2020 officials to avoid getting on a plane, the International Olympic Committee said.

“The IOC and Tokyo 2020 spoke to the Belarusian athlete Kristina…