Two years after Olympic defection, Belarusian sprinter cleared to race for Poland

Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, the Belarusian sprinter who defected at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, has been cleared by World Athletics to compete for Poland after it waived the normal three-year waiting period for nationality changes.

Tsimanouskaya refused to board a flight back home from Tokyo when she was removed from the Olympics against her will after publicly complaining about national team coaches' decision to enter her in the 4x400 metres relay, which was not her customary distance.

A letter by the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel seen by Reuters on Monday said that Tsimanouskaya could represent Poland starting Aug. 6, 2023. World Athletics referred questions to the Polish Athletic Association , saying it was a confidential application process."I'm extremely happy but I'm experiencing strange emotions because everything has happened so fast and suddenly," Tsimanouskaya, 26, wrote on Instagram.

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