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

FILE PHOTO: Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, a Belarusian athlete who refused to return home from the Tokyo Olympics, flashes the victory sign during a competition at a stadium in Szczecin, Poland August 15, 2021. Krzysztof Hadrian/Agencja Gazeta via REUTERS

BEIJING (Reuters) - 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.