Belarusian Olympic athlete, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, finally landed in Poland after making a stopover in Vienna, after facing indirect threats from home country’s government.

The Polish airline LOT flight from Vienna, where she stopped over on her way from Tokyo, landed in Warsaw at 8:11pm (1811 GMT), according to the arrivals screen at Warsaw Airport.

Earlier, an Austrian plane landed at Vienna airport after 3 pm (local time). This was a&nbsp;small stopover for the Olympic athlete on the way to Poland.&nbsp;"According to our information, she is scheduled to head to Warsaw this evening," an Austrian foreign ministry spokesman told AFP earlier on Wednesday.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/poland-offers-humanitarian-visa-to-belarusian-sprinter-krystsina-tsimanouskaya-402463">WATCH |</a>

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This news has come after Poland offered her a humanitarian visa, along with her husband. "Mrs&nbsp;Tsimanouskaya's husband has also just received a Polish humanitarian visa," Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller told reporters.

Krystsina Tsimanouskaya hit the news when she openly criticised her state-appointed Olympic coaches, which caused trouble for her in Belarus. She took to Instagram to complain about her coaches who allegedly entered her into a race without informing her.

She was also one of more than 2,000 Belarusian Olympic athletes who had signed an open letter demanding the freeing of political prisoners and had also called for fresh and fair elections.

After her comments, her husband, too, had to flee Belarus. He is reported to have flown to Ukraine, after which he is scheduled to meet his wife in Poland, as per media reports. The couple will, reportedly, make their permanent stop in Poland, which stands strongly against Belarus leader &nbsp;Alexander Lukashenko and has become a hotspot for the majority of the dissidents.

(With inputs from agencies)

Belarusian Olympic athlete, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, finally landed in Poland after making a stopover in Vienna, after facing indirect threats from home country’s government.

Belarusian Olympic athlete, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, finally landed in Poland after making a stopover in Vienna, after facing indirect threats from home country’s government. The Polish airline LOT flight from Vienna, where she stopped over on her way from Tokyo, landed in Warsaw at 8:11pm (1811 GMT), according to the arrivals screen at Warsaw Airport. Earlier, an Austrian plane landed at Vienna airport after 3 pm (local time). This was a small stopover for the Olympic athlete on the way to Poland. "According to our information, she is scheduled to head to Warsaw this evening," an Austrian foreign ministry spokesman told AFP earlier on Wednesday. WATCH | This news has come after Poland offered her a humanitarian visa, along with her husband. "Mrs Tsimanouskaya's husband has also just received a Polish humanitarian visa," Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller told reporters. Krystsina Tsimanouskaya hit the news when she openly criticised her state-appointed Olympic coaches, which caused trouble for her in Belarus. She took to Instagram to complain about her coaches who allegedly entered her into a race without informing her. She was also one of more than 2,000 Belarusian Olympic athletes who had signed an open letter demanding the freeing of political prisoners and had also called for fresh and fair elections. After her comments, her husband, too, had to flee Belarus. He is reported to have flown to Ukraine, after which he is scheduled to meet his wife in Poland, as per media reports. The couple will, reportedly, make their permanent stop in Poland, which stands strongly against Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko and has become a hotspot for the majority of the dissidents. (With inputs from agencies)

Belarusian Olympic athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya lands in Poland after receiving humanitarian visa

Dutch Olympic athlete Madiea Ghafoor has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in jail after 2 million pounds ($2.58 million) worth of ecstasy tablets and crystal meth were found in the boot of her car in Germany, DPA news agency has reported.

Ghafoor, 27, was stopped at a border check in Elten in June where 50kg of ecstasy, 2kg of crystal meth and 11,950 euros in cash were seized by police, the report said.

The athlete, who ran for the Netherlands in the 4x400m relay at the 2016 Olympic Games, pleaded not guilty to the charges at Kleve District Court and said she thought she was carrying doping materials, the German news agency said.

The Dutch Athletics Union said it was shocked by the case and would investigate Ghafoor’s claim concerning doping materials to ascertain who else might have been involved.

"We are stunned by the judgement," a statement on the organisation’s website said. "With the ruling of the German court, the Athletics Union rejects the actions of Ghafoor.

"The Athletics Union condemns any use or trade in doping or drugs and fully commits itself to the Dutch doping law.

"The case has been transferred to the Doping Authority to investigate the extent to which the doping legislation has been violated."

Ghafoor refused to reveal who she was transporting the drugs for and said she feared for the safety of her family, DPA said.

Dutch Olympic athlete Madiea Ghafoor has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in jail after 2 million pounds ($2.58 million) worth of ecstasy tablets and crystal meth were found in the boot of her car in Germany, DPA news agency has reported.

Dutch Olympic athlete Madiea Ghafoor has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in jail after 2 million pounds ($2.58 million) worth of ecstasy tablets and crystal meth were found in the boot of her car in Germany, DPA news agency has reported. Ghafoor, 27, was stopped at a border check in Elten in June where 50kg of ecstasy, 2kg of crystal meth and 11,950 euros in cash were seized by police, the report said. The athlete, who ran for the Netherlands in the 4x400m relay at the 2016 Olympic Games, pleaded not guilty to the charges at Kleve District Court and said she thought she was carrying doping materials, the German news agency said. The Dutch Athletics Union said it was shocked by the case and would investigate Ghafoor’s claim concerning doping materials to ascertain who else might have been involved. "We are stunned by the judgement," a statement on the organisation’s website said. "With the ruling of the German court, the Athletics Union rejects the actions of Ghafoor. "The Athletics Union condemns any use or trade in doping or drugs and fully commits itself to the Dutch doping law. "The case has been transferred to the Doping Authority to investigate the extent to which the doping legislation has been violated." Ghafoor refused to reveal who she was transporting the drugs for and said she feared for the safety of her family, DPA said.

Dutch Olympic athlete jailed for drug trafficking

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/south-african-government-instructs-athletics-body-to-appeal-caster-semenya-decision-218435">Caster Semenya</a> will compete in the 3,000 metres at the Diamond League's Prefontaine Classic in Stanford, California on June 30, a distance she can race without reducing her testosterone levels.

Semenya, who has won two Olympic golds over 800 metres, has been adamant that she will not take medication to lower her testosterone levels to comply with new International Associations of Athletics (IAAF) rules.

The race will be her first since the new rules went into effect.

Under the new regulations, female athletes with high natural levels of testosterone wishing to compete in events from 400m to a mile must medically limit that level to under 5 nmol/L, double the normal female range of below 2 nmol/L.

Barring an appeal, Semenya can no longer compete in her specialist event after she lost her appeal against the new rules, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) stating that the regulations were necessary to ensure fair competition.

Semenya will form part of a formidable field at the Prefontaine Classic that includes world 5,000-metres champion Hellen Obiri, 2016 world indoor 1,500-metres champion Sifan Hassan, and 2018 world indoor 1,500 and 3,000-metres champion Genzebe Dibaba.

"It was a request from Caster Semenya's agent asking if she could run a 3,000," meet director Tom Jordan told Reuters. "Of course we said yes."

The event is sponsored by Nike, who have Semenya in their stable of athletes. &nbsp;

Semenya became South African national champion in the 5,000 metres in April, but is some way off the leading runners in the world over that distance.

The flat 3,000 metres is not contested at the Olympic Games, but a steeplechase over the distance is on the list of events.

Semenya has a personal best of 9:36.29 in the flat 3,000 metres, the slowest of the runners in the Prefontaine Classic, with Dibaba (8:16.60) the quickest.

The South African’s last race over 800 metres was in the Diamond League in Doha on May 3, when she cruised to victory in 1:54.98, nearly three seconds ahead of Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba.

"I'm a crazy athlete, I switch events like hell but, yeah, 800 metres is my calling, I believe in it, and that's what I want to do," she said after winning in Doha.

"I will switch races when I want to -- no man can tell me what to do. I'm here for a purpose, if I want to switch events I switch them, but if someone wants me to switch them, that's their own problem, not mine.

"I'm a power athlete, I can run from 100 metres to 5 km, so I can run any race I want."

The Prefontaine Classic is being staged in Stanford, California this year while a new stadium is built in Eugene, Oregon for the 2021 world championships.

Caster Semenya will compete in the 3,000 metres at the Diamond League's Prefontaine Classic in Stanford, California on June 30, a distance she can race without reducing her testosterone levels.

Caster Semenya will compete in the 3,000 metres at the Diamond League's Prefontaine Classic in Stanford, California on June 30, a distance she can race without reducing her testosterone levels. Semenya, who has won two Olympic golds over 800 metres, has been adamant that she will not take medication to lower her testosterone levels to comply with new International Associations of Athletics (IAAF) rules. The race will be her first since the new rules went into effect. Under the new regulations, female athletes with high natural levels of testosterone wishing to compete in events from 400m to a mile must medically limit that level to under 5 nmol/L, double the normal female range of below 2 nmol/L. Barring an appeal, Semenya can no longer compete in her specialist event after she lost her appeal against the new rules, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) stating that the regulations were necessary to ensure fair competition. Semenya will form part of a formidable field at the Prefontaine Classic that includes world 5,000-metres champion Hellen Obiri, 2016 world indoor 1,500-metres champion Sifan Hassan, and 2018 world indoor 1,500 and 3,000-metres champion Genzebe Dibaba. "It was a request from Caster Semenya's agent asking if she could run a 3,000," meet director Tom Jordan told Reuters. "Of course we said yes." The event is sponsored by Nike, who have Semenya in their stable of athletes. Semenya became South African national champion in the 5,000 metres in April, but is some way off the leading runners in the world over that distance. The flat 3,000 metres is not contested at the Olympic Games, but a steeplechase over the distance is on the list of events. Semenya has a personal best of 9:36.29 in the flat 3,000 metres, the slowest of the runners in the Prefontaine Classic, with Dibaba (8:16.60) the quickest. The South African’s last race over 800 metres was in the Diamond League in Doha on May 3, when she cruised to victory in 1:54.98, nearly three seconds ahead of Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba. "I'm a crazy athlete, I switch events like hell but, yeah, 800 metres is my calling, I believe in it, and that's what I want to do," she said after winning in Doha. "I will switch races when I want to -- no man can tell me what to do. I'm here for a purpose, if I want to switch events I switch them, but if someone wants me to switch them, that's their own problem, not mine. "I'm a power athlete, I can run from 100 metres to 5 km, so I can run any race I want." The Prefontaine Classic is being staged in Stanford, California this year while a new stadium is built in Eugene, Oregon for the 2021 world championships.

Caster Semenya to contest 3,000-metres at Prefontaine Classic

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand recently <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sprinter-dutee-chand-faces-expulsion-from-family-after-revealing-same-sex-relationship-219884">opened up about her same-sex relationship</a> with a younger relative, however, the revelation did not go well with her family.&nbsp;

She said that her parents have not yet raised any objection to her relationship but her eldest sister has threatened to not only expel her from the family but also send her to jail.&nbsp;

Now, the elder sister Saraswati, who is also an athlete, is claiming that the sprinter's partner "pressurised and blackmailed" her for wealth and property.&nbsp;

"With great sorrow, I have to say that the decision taken by Dutee is not of her own. She's been pressurised and blackmailed into marriage by that girl and her family. All of this has been done to grab the property and wealth of Dutee," Saraswati Chand, elder sister of the Asian Games medalist told ANI.

"Dutee's life and property are in danger. That's why I request the government to provide protection and security to Dutee," she added.&nbsp;

When asked if the family is supportive of Dutee's relation, Saraswati said, "She is an adult. It's her decision whether she wants to marry a girl or a boy. But Dutee has been forced to speak all this. Otherwise, a decision about marriage could have been discussed later."&nbsp;

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"Those people who claim to have played a role in Dutee's success are the culprits. It's them who are deviating her from sports and miring her into controversy. She's been led into a trap. Instead of focusing on the 2020 Olympics and World Championship, she's been dragged into this. Every government department has been encouraging her for sports," she added.&nbsp;

"When a child excels, family members are happy. They get social prestige and people congratulate parents as well. On the contrary, if a child commits wrong deeds then the only family will take the responsibility," Saraswati opined. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand recently opened up about her same-sex relationship with a younger relative, however, the revelation did not go well with her family. She said that her parents have not yet raised any objection to her relationship but her eldest sister has threatened to not only expel her from the family but also send her to jail.

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand recently opened up about her same-sex relationship with a younger relative, however, the revelation did not go well with her family. She said that her parents have not yet raised any objection to her relationship but her eldest sister has threatened to not only expel her from the family but also send her to jail. Now, the elder sister Saraswati, who is also an athlete, is claiming that the sprinter's partner "pressurised and blackmailed" her for wealth and property. "With great sorrow, I have to say that the decision taken by Dutee is not of her own. She's been pressurised and blackmailed into marriage by that girl and her family. All of this has been done to grab the property and wealth of Dutee," Saraswati Chand, elder sister of the Asian Games medalist told ANI. "Dutee's life and property are in danger. That's why I request the government to provide protection and security to Dutee," she added. When asked if the family is supportive of Dutee's relation, Saraswati said, "She is an adult. It's her decision whether she wants to marry a girl or a boy. But Dutee has been forced to speak all this. Otherwise, a decision about marriage could have been discussed later." × "Those people who claim to have played a role in Dutee's success are the culprits. It's them who are deviating her from sports and miring her into controversy. She's been led into a trap. Instead of focusing on the 2020 Olympics and World Championship, she's been dragged into this. Every government department has been encouraging her for sports," she added. "When a child excels, family members are happy. They get social prestige and people congratulate parents as well. On the contrary, if a child commits wrong deeds then the only family will take the responsibility," Saraswati opined. (With inputs from agencies)

Dutee Chand was 'pressurised and blackmailed' for admitting same-sex relation, claims her sister

Unapologetic about her same-sex relationship with a younger relative, India's fastest woman Dutee Chand is facing a tough battle of acceptance in her family.&nbsp;

Dutee, who won two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games, became one of the few athletes in the world to openly admit same-sex relationship.&nbsp;

"I am having a relationship with a 19-year-old woman from my village for the past five years. She is studying B.A. 2nd year in a Bhubaneswar college. She is a relative of mine and whenever I come to home, I spend time with her. She is a kind of soul-mate for me and I want to settle down with her in future," Chand, 23, told PTI from Hyderabad where she is training.&nbsp;

The landmark judgement of the Supreme Court last year had made the same-sex relationship between consenting adults a non-criminal act though marriage between such individuals is still not legal in India.&nbsp;

Dutee, the 100m national record holder (11.24 seconds), says while her parents have not yet raised any objection to her relationship, her eldest sister has threatened to not only expel her from the family but also send her to jail.&nbsp;

"My eldest sister kind of wields power and authority in my family. She has thrown out my elder brother from home because she does not like his wife. She has threatened me that same will happen to me. But I am also an adult who has individual freedom. So, I decided to go ahead with this and make it public.&nbsp;

"My eldest sister feels that my partner is interested in my property. She has told me that she will send me to jail for having this relationship," she said.&nbsp;

Dutee said her partner is free to marry whoever she wants to if she decides to do so in future.&nbsp;

"I will continue my athletics career. I am going to take part in the World University Games next month and hope to qualify for the World Championships later this year. My aim to qualify for next year's Olympics, so I am training hard," she said.&nbsp;

While Dutee refused to name her partner, she said the Supreme Court judgement on the issue gave her the courage to go public. &nbsp;

"My partner also agreed that we should make this public and face whatever repercussions it may bring to us. I believe in individual freedom and right to decide how and with whom I will live my life."&nbsp;

She said another reason for coming out in the open was that she did not want something which happened with sprinter Pinki Pramanik, who was accused of rape by her live-in partner.&nbsp;

Pinki was a member of the 2006 Asian Games 4x400m relay gold winning team.&nbsp;

"We did not want this kind of situation happening in future," Dutee said.&nbsp;

Dutee, who was banned for one year by the international athletics federation in 2014 for having higher testosterone (male sex hormone) level than permissible, hails from Chaka Gopalpur village at Jajpur district of Odisha and she was born to Chakradhar Chand and Akhuji Chand.&nbsp;

Dutee won a landmark 'gender' case against the IAAF in an appeal to the Court of Arbitration in 2015 and she was allowed to compete after being banned for one year.&nbsp;

The CAS suspended the IAAF's policy on hyperandrogenism for two years.&nbsp;

Later the world body changed the policy, which applicable only on female athletes competing in the range of 400m to 1500m, leaving out Dutee, who competes in 100m and 200m, from its ambit.

Unapologetic about her same-sex relationship with a younger relative, India's fastest woman Dutee Chand is facing a tough battle of acceptance in her family. Dutee, who won two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games, became one of the few athletes in the world to openly admit same-sex relationship.

Unapologetic about her same-sex relationship with a younger relative, India's fastest woman Dutee Chand is facing a tough battle of acceptance in her family. Dutee, who won two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games, became one of the few athletes in the world to openly admit same-sex relationship. "I am having a relationship with a 19-year-old woman from my village for the past five years. She is studying B.A. 2nd year in a Bhubaneswar college. She is a relative of mine and whenever I come to home, I spend time with her. She is a kind of soul-mate for me and I want to settle down with her in future," Chand, 23, told PTI from Hyderabad where she is training. The landmark judgement of the Supreme Court last year had made the same-sex relationship between consenting adults a non-criminal act though marriage between such individuals is still not legal in India. Dutee, the 100m national record holder (11.24 seconds), says while her parents have not yet raised any objection to her relationship, her eldest sister has threatened to not only expel her from the family but also send her to jail. "My eldest sister kind of wields power and authority in my family. She has thrown out my elder brother from home because she does not like his wife. She has threatened me that same will happen to me. But I am also an adult who has individual freedom. So, I decided to go ahead with this and make it public. "My eldest sister feels that my partner is interested in my property. She has told me that she will send me to jail for having this relationship," she said. Dutee said her partner is free to marry whoever she wants to if she decides to do so in future. "I will continue my athletics career. I am going to take part in the World University Games next month and hope to qualify for the World Championships later this year. My aim to qualify for next year's Olympics, so I am training hard," she said. While Dutee refused to name her partner, she said the Supreme Court judgement on the issue gave her the courage to go public. "My partner also agreed that we should make this public and face whatever repercussions it may bring to us. I believe in individual freedom and right to decide how and with whom I will live my life." She said another reason for coming out in the open was that she did not want something which happened with sprinter Pinki Pramanik, who was accused of rape by her live-in partner. Pinki was a member of the 2006 Asian Games 4x400m relay gold winning team. "We did not want this kind of situation happening in future," Dutee said. Dutee, who was banned for one year by the international athletics federation in 2014 for having higher testosterone (male sex hormone) level than permissible, hails from Chaka Gopalpur village at Jajpur district of Odisha and she was born to Chakradhar Chand and Akhuji Chand. Dutee won a landmark 'gender' case against the IAAF in an appeal to the Court of Arbitration in 2015 and she was allowed to compete after being banned for one year. The CAS suspended the IAAF's policy on hyperandrogenism for two years. Later the world body changed the policy, which applicable only on female athletes competing in the range of 400m to 1500m, leaving out Dutee, who competes in 100m and 200m, from its ambit.

Sprinter Dutee Chand faces expulsion from family after revealing same sex relationship

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Belarusian Olympic athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya lands in Poland after receiving humanitarian visa

Dutch Olympic athlete jailed for drug trafficking

Caster Semenya to contest 3,000-metres at Prefontaine Classic

Dutee Chand was 'pressurised and blackmailed' for admitting same-sex relation, claims her sister

Sprinter Dutee Chand faces expulsion from family after revealing same sex relationship