A young Belarusian cross-country skier who was barred from competition after sports officials accused her of supporting the opposition has left the country.
The father of skier Darya Dalidovich wrote on Facebook on February 8 that he and his daughter were currently in Poland because of the turmoil, but hope to return home at some point.
"We have left, but will return, I believe. Long live Belarus!" Syarhey Dalidovich, who is also his daughter's coach, wrote.
Last month, Darya Dalidovich and fellow skier Svyatlana Andryyuk said the Belarus Ski Union annulled their individual athlete registrations in December, making them ineligible to take part in official competitions organized by the International Ski Federation (FIS).
SEE ALSO: Two Belarusian Skiers Say Barred From Competing By Lukashenka RegimeDalidovich, 17, said at the time that her father's political views were likely behind the move.
Syarhey Dalidovich, a seven-time Olympian, took part in demonstrations against authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka following a disputed presidential election in August 2020.
Lukashenka has since ruled over a sometimes violent crackdown against dissent that has prompted several countries to impose sanctions against Belarusian officials, including Lukashenka himself.
Last week, the United States introduced sanctions against Belarusian citizens who, according to the State Department, were involved in the "transnational repression" of Belarusian athletes abroad.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the move targets "multiple Belarusian nationals for their involvement in serious, extraterritorial counter-dissident activity," without identifying the individuals affected by the sanctions.
SEE ALSO: U.S. Slaps Belarusian Officials With Additional Sanctions For 'Repression' Of Athletes AbroadMost Belarusian opposition figures have been jailed or left the country, as have several athletes who have been punished for supporting protesters.
In one of the most high-profile cases targeting athletes, Belarusian team officials tried to force sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya to fly home from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 after she criticized them on social media.
She took refuge in the Polish Embassy in Tokyo after refusing the order. Two days later she boarded a plane to Europe, reaching Warsaw, where she is living in exile.