The sporting director of the German cycling federation (BDR) has been told to return home from the Tokyo Olympics after being caught on camera using racist language during Wednesday's men's Olympic road time trial.
"The team leadership at the Olympic Games in Tokyo has decided that Patrick Moster cannot continue his work as national team leader Cycling and will return to Germany," the German team said in a statement.
Moster had used the offensive language during the road time trial event as he tried to urge on German cyclist Nikias Arndt as he chased Algeria's Azzedine Lagab and Eritrea's Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier.
He was overheard using a racial slur when directing rider Nikias Arndt to beat his competition from Algeria and Eritrea.
"Get the camel drivers! Get the camel drivers! Come on!" he said.
Moster apologised, later blaming his remarks on "the heat of the moment."
"In the heat of the moment and with the overall burden that we have here at the moment, my choice of words was not appropriate. I am extremely sorry and can only offer my sincere apologies," he said in a statement.
On German TV broadcaster ARD, commentator Florian Nass was left stunned, describing the comments as "totally wrong".
"Words fail me," he said. "Something like that has no place in sport."
Algerian cyclist Azzedine Lagab said he was offended by Moster's use of a racial slur.
“Well, There is no camel race in #olympics," he said in a message on Twitter.
"That’s why I came to cycling. At least I was there in #Tokyo2020.”
He said he was shocked to encounter such language at the Olympics.
"I had more aggressive racist comments before, but I’ve always preferred to deal with them on the spot, far from social media It’s such a shame it happens in the #olympics," he wrote on Twitter.
Arndt also condemned the language used, saying he is "appalled" and does not support the use of racial slurs.
With SBS News
