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Ingebrigtsen's athlete Pinto speaks out: 'Makes no sense'
🇳🇴 Norway /Sports

Ingebrigtsen's athlete Pinto speaks out: 'Makes no sense'

From Aftenposten · () Norwegian

Translated from Norwegian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Portuguese athlete Jose Carlos Pinto confirmed Gjert Ingebrigtsen is present at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, despite lacking official accreditation.
  • Pinto stated that Ingebrigtsen arrived on the day of his 5000m race, and that the Portuguese federation has an agreement for his presence.
  • European Athletics denied Ingebrigtsen accreditation, citing safeguarding concerns, a decision Pinto finds illogical given his previous accreditations.

Portuguese runner Jose Carlos Pinto confirmed that Gjert Ingebrigtsen is with him at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, even without official accreditation. Pinto stated that Ingebrigtsen arrived on the day of his 5000m race and that the Portuguese federation has an agreement for his presence.

He is here. We have an agreement with the federation of Portugal, so he is here with me, but without accreditation. He arrived today.

— Jose Carlos PintoPortuguese athlete Jose Carlos Pinto confirmed Gjert Ingebrigtsen's presence at the European Athletics Championships.

Pinto expressed frustration with the European Athletics Association's decision to deny Ingebrigtsen accreditation, citing safeguarding concerns. He argued that the decision makes no sense, as Ingebrigtsen had received accreditation for previous events like the European Cross Country Championships and the Team European Championships.

It makes no sense to give him accreditation for the cross-country European Championship and the Team European Championship, but deny him it now.

— Jose Carlos PintoJose Carlos Pinto questioned the European Athletics Association's decision to deny Gjert Ingebrigtsen accreditation.

"It makes no sense to give him accreditation for the cross-country European Championship and the Team European Championship, but deny him it now," Pinto told VG and other Norwegian media. "The European Athletics Association must provide a public answer, instead of just sending private emails to the federation. It doesn't hold up, because in this way we will never know the truth."

The European Athletics Association must provide a public answer, instead of just sending private emails to the federation. It doesn't hold up, because in this way we will never know the truth.

— Jose Carlos PintoPinto demanded a public explanation from European Athletics regarding the accreditation decision.

European Athletics provided a justification to VG, stating the decision was made in line with World Athletics' stance and European Athletics' commitments and regulations regarding safeguarding. Pinto countered this by pointing out that Ingebrigtsen was acquitted in court of all charges related to abuse. He feels targeted, stating, "I feel bullied. What they say about safeguarding goes both ways. I am also a victim here, because I cannot have my coach present."

I feel bullied. What they say about safeguarding goes both ways. I am also a victim here, because I cannot have my coach present.

— Jose Carlos PintoPinto described his feelings about the situation and the impact on his coaching relationship.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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