Distraught Ukrainian biathlete Laletina pulls out of Winter Paralympics as her soldier dad is captured by Russian forces
UKRAINIAN Paralympic star Anastasiia Laletina has withdrawn from the Games after her father was captured by Russian forces.
Laletina's dad is a soldier in the Ukrainian army and has been taking prisoner as fighting continues almost two weeks into Russia's invasion.
As a result, Laletina feels she is unable to participate in the middle distance sitting event in Beijing and will soon fly to Poland.
Ukrainian team spokesperson Natalia Harach said: "Her father is a soldier in the Ukrainian army and (was taken) prisoner by Russian soldiers. They beat him.
"She was very upset and couldn't take part in the race."
Harach also revealed Laletina has been seen to by the team doctor to help her cope with the traumatic event.
The house of an assistant coach on the team was also bombed by a Russian missile in Kharkiv.
Ukraine have had a successful Games despite the trouble at home, sitting third in the medal table with 19 - six of which have been gold.
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Meanwhile, Russian athletes have been banned from competing - even under the banner of the Russia Olympic Committee.
Belarus, a supporter of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have also been banned from the Winter Paralympics.
International Paralympic chiefs initially ruled that athletes from the two countries would be able to compete as neutrals but U-turned following a big backlash.
In other sports Fifa have banned Russia from competing in the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup and Formula One have taken the Sochi Grand Prix off their race calendar.