Belarus' Supreme Court has rejected an appeal against 12-year prison sentences handed in absentia to Belarusian Sports Solidarity Fund (BSSF) founders Aliaksandra Herasimenia and Aliaksandr Apeikin.

Three-time Olympic swimming medallist Aliaksandra Herasimenia, a well-known critic of President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in absentia for "creating an extremist formation" - linked to her work with the Belarus Sports Solidarity Foundation (BSSF).

Poland has given equestrian rider Olga Safronova a humanitarian visa, becoming the second Belarusian athlete to claim refuge in the country after she was excluded from her nation's Olympic delegation for criticising state authorities. 

United States President Joe Biden has signed an Executive Order imposing sanctions against the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus (NOCRB), as the US seeks to punish the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, for his "ongoing assault against the democratic aspirations and human rights of the Belarusian people".

Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya has been granted a humanitarian visa by the country after she alleged she had been taken to the airport in Tokyo against her will following criticism of Belarus coaches at Tokyo 2020 on social media.

The head of the Belarus Sport Solidarity Foundation (BSSF), three-time Olympic swimming medallist Aliaksandra Herasimenia, has put her 2012 World Championship gold medal up for sale to "support all Belarusians", as a response to a criminal case opened against her by the Investigative Committee of Belarus.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has claimed the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to refuse to recognition his son’s election as National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus (NOCRB) President is "political", and that the country will seek to "hold out" for its independence.

Viktor Lukashenko has replaced his father Alexander Lukashenko as National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus (NOC Belarus) President, an appointment that is likely to result in sanctions from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said the organisation will wait for the outcome of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus (NOC Belarus) elections before making a decision on whether the country’s flag will fly at Tokyo 2020.

Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto is due to address the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board when it holds its monthly meeting tomorrow, which once again will be taking place virtually. 

More than six weeks ago, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced a series of "provisional measures" against Belarus.

International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President René Fasel has suggested Belarus will receive financial compensation after the country was stripped of co-hosting the Men's World Championship.

International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President René Fasel has admitted that his visit to Minsk last week had been open to misinterpretation. 

Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has denied her representatives spoke with International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President René Fasel prior to his controversial meeting with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.

If you are the President of an International Federation (IF), it is a not a good look to have a photo with the person your own organisation is investigating for alleged murder.