Belarusian sprinter says those behind her early Olympic exit should be punished

BEIJING : Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya who defected at last year's Tokyo Games told Reuters on Friday she had fought hard for the United States to penalise those responsible for her early Olympic exit and that she hoped international sports bodies would join in punishing them.

"They deprived me of my right to take part in the Olympic Games and the I think that sanctions should be imposed against them," Tsimanouskaya told Reuters.

"I would also like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the international federation (World Athletics) to respond to this case and make decisions regarding the people who participated in the attempt to remove me from Tokyo."

On Thursday the United States said it was imposing visa restrictions on several Belarusian nationals, citing Tsimanouskaya's case and repression against athletes from the country.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; editing by John Stonestreet)