Belarus
FILE - Sweden's Hanna Oberg crosses the finish line to finish second in the women's Biathlon World Cup 12.5 km mass start event in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic, March 8, 2020. Öberg took gold in the women's 15-kilometer individual at the PyeongChang Olympics, while Norway's Johannes Thingnes Boe won the men's race and both have stood on the podium this season. But all other 2018 gold-medal winners have moved on to other adventures. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
Biathlon retirements mean new hopefuls take aim at Olympics

By Martha Bellisle Jan. 10, 2022 02:40 AM EST

Belarus fines freestyle skiing world champ, campaigners say

Nov. 11, 2021 11:03 AM EST
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Freestyle skiing world champion Aliaksandra Ramanouskaya has been fined by a court in Belarus after being detained by authorities, the...

FILE - In this Friday, July 30, 2021 file photo, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, of Belarus, runs in the women's 100-meter run at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Japan. An investigation into two Belarus team officials who tried to force sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya on a flight from the Tokyo Olympics will now be run by track and field authorities. World Athletics said on Thursday Sept. 30, 2021, its independent Athletics Integrity Unit is taking over the case from the International Olympic Committee. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
Athletics investigators take over Belarus Olympic case

Sep. 30, 2021 05:13 AM EDT

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks during a meeting in Minsk, Belarus, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021. (Nikolay Petrov/BelTA Pool Photo via AP)
Belarus hockey official banned 5 years for political abuse

By Graham Dunbar Sep. 08, 2021 09:02 AM EDT

Poland gives humanitarian visa to 2nd Belarus athlete

Sep. 05, 2021 11:40 AM EDT
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A lawmaker in Poland says a second Belarussian athlete, an equestrian who was excluded from the country's Olympic team after criticizing...

Belarusian Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, left, and her husband Arseni Zdanevich speak to The Associated Press in Warsaw, Poland, on Wednesday Aug. 11, 2021. The runner, who has found refuge to rebuild her life in Poland, described the feeling of safety when police took her away from her national team officials. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Belarus sprinter feels safe, looks to future in Poland

By Vanessa Gera Aug. 11, 2021 04:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2021, file photo, Allyson Felix, of United States smiles after taking the bronze, in the final of women's 400-meters at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
The Perseverance Games: Surreal Olympics approach their end

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 07, 2021 09:13 AM EDT

France's Nikola Karabatic makes a shot during the men's gold medal handball match between France and Denmark at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
Olympic Latest: France earns gold for 1st volleyball medal

Aug. 06, 2021 07:41 PM EDT

United State's Gable Dan Steveson celebrates after defeating Georgia's Gennadij Cudinovic during their men's freestyle 125kg wrestling final match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Chiba, Japan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
USA's Steveson scores late to win wrestling gold

By Cliff Brunt Aug. 06, 2021 10:33 AM EDT

Belarusian Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, who arrived in Poland on Wednesday fearing reprisals at home after criticizing her coaches at the Tokyo Games, holds up an Olympic-related T-shirt with the slogan "I Just Want to Run" after her news conference in Warsaw, Poland, on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Tsimanouskaya reached Poland by plane from Tokyo through Vienna, a circuitous route due to security concerns, days after she accused team officials of trying to force her to fly back to Belarus, where an authoritarian government has relentlessly pursued its critics. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
2 coaches removed from Tokyo Olympics in Belarus case

By Graham Dunbar Aug. 05, 2021 10:17 PM EDT

Stephenie Mcpherson, right, of Jamaica, reacts after winning a women's 400-meter semifinal as Allyson Felix, of the United States, looks on, at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Olympic Latest: Canada wins 1st gold in women's soccer

Aug. 05, 2021 08:36 PM EDT

United State's Gable Dan Steveson compete with Mongolia's Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur during the men's 125kg Freestyle wrestling semifinal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
American Taylor beats Iran's Yazdani for wrestling gold

By Cliff Brunt Aug. 05, 2021 10:40 AM EDT

Belarus Olympic sprinter: Grandmother advised her not to return home because of negative reports about her on TV

Aug. 05, 2021 08:11 AM EDT
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Belarus Olympic sprinter: Grandmother advised her not to return home because of negative reports about her on TV. ...

Belarusian Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, who came to Poland fearing reprisals at home after criticizing her coaches at the Tokyo Games, holds her face mask before she talks to journalists in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Belarus runner used quick thinking to avoid being sent home

By Monika Scislowska And Daria Litvinova Aug. 05, 2021 06:35 AM EDT

France's Jean Patry celebrates a point during a men's volleyball semifinal match against Argentina, at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Olympics Latest: China women win table tennis again

Aug. 04, 2021 08:23 PM EDT

Japan's Risako Kawai, right, and United States Helen Louise Maroulis compete during the women's 57kg Freestyle semifinal wrestling match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Chiba, Japan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Helen Maroulis loses to Risako Kawai in 57kg semifinals

By Cliff Brunt Aug. 04, 2021 10:20 AM EDT

Belarusian Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya has assuringly landed in an Austrian airline aircraft at Schwechat International Airport in Vienna Austria, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. Tsimanouskaya plans to seek refuge in Europe after accusing team officials of trying to force her to leave the Tokyo Games early. (AP Photo/Lisa Leutner)
Belarus Olympic runner who feared going home lands in Poland

By Vladimir Isachenkov And David Keyton Aug. 04, 2021 04:54 AM EDT

FILE In this file pool photo taken on Saturday, April 4, 2020, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko takes part in a hockey match during Republican amateur competitions in Minsk, Belarus. A feud between Belarusian Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya and team officials that prompted her to seek refuge in Poland has again cast a spotlight on the repressive environment in the ex-Soviet nation, where authorities have unleashed a relentless crackdown on dissent. (Andrei Pokumeiko/BelTA Pool Photo via AP, File)
FC Minsk vs FC BGU Minsk 4/5/2020

Aug. 04, 2021 04:19 AM EDT

FILE In this file photo taken from video, Belarus Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya speaks during a zoom interview with the Associated Press in Japan, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. A feud between Tsimanouskaya and team officials that prompted her to seek refuge in Poland has again cast a spotlight on the repressive environment in the ex-Soviet nation, where authorities have unleashed a relentless crackdown on dissent. (AP Photo/Daniel Kozin, File)
EXPLAINER: What happens when Olympics and politics collide?

By Graham Dunbar Aug. 04, 2021 04:11 AM EDT

FILE In this file photo taken on Friday, July 9, 2021, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, left, presents the national flag to the captain of Belarus National Olympic team Ivan Tikhon ahead of the Summer Olympics Games in Tokyo, Minsk, Belarus. Lukashenko, who has a keen interest in sports and served as the head of the Belarus National Olympic Committee for nearly a quarter-century before handing over the post to his older son in February, has sternly warned the country's Olympic athletes that they better show high performance. (Maxim Guchek/BelTA Pool Photo via AP, File)
EXPLAINER: What is behind Belarus athlete's Olympics crisis?

By Yuras Karmanau And Vladimir Isachenkov Aug. 04, 2021 03:47 AM EDT