An American cyclist has been suspended for a tweet he sent out regarding President Donald Trump.
It is the latest example of the chokehold politics seems to have on sports these days.
This past week, Quinn Simmons of the Trek-Segafredo cycling team was suspended for tweets described as “divisive, incendiary, and detrimental.”
“Regrettably, team rider Quinn Simmons made statements online that we feel are divisive, incendiary, and detrimental to the team, professional cycling, its fans, and the positive future we hope to help create for the sport,” a Trek-Segafredo statement read.
“(He) will not be racing for Trek-Segafredo until further notice.”
Simmons, 19, found himself in hot water after replying with the word “bye” and a dark-skinned hand emoji to a Dutch journalist who wrote that she wished that Trump’s “horrible presidency ends” and that “if you follow me and support Trump, you can go.”
After a different account replied, “Apparently a Trumper,” Simmons responded with, “That’s right” and included an American flag symbol.
What a loss 💕
— Quinn Simmons (@QuinnSimmons9) September 30, 2020
Thank you! 🙏
— Quinn Simmons (@QuinnSimmons9) September 30, 2020
Interestingly enough, the Dutch journalist in question, Jose Been, later deleted her original message and then subsequently wrote on Thursday that she feels “horrible about the situation and terrible for [Simmons] to miss his beloved classics. To suspend him would never be my choice.”
Dwight Howard kept it real. https://t.co/ZzyKKkZluk
— Game 7 (@game7__) October 1, 2020
Diversity in Cycling, meanwhile, took a different stance on Twitter.
“It is worth explaining why Quinn Simmons’ tweets were racist. It was not because of his politics, but because he used a black hand gesture.
“This is a form of blackface – a means of racist oppression used by extremist groups. No Quinn, the furore is not about your political beliefs, it is about your racism.
“You used a black hand gesture, a form of blackface. You know the history of blackface right?
“Trek-Segafredo 100 per cent correct to suspend you. Listen and learn.”
Simmons previously took home a gold medal at the 2019 Junior Road Race in Yorkshire and earned second at the 2020 Tour de Hongrie.
It remains to be seen how Trek-Segafredo will ultimately opt to handle him going forward based on the public’s response to how this entire ordeal has gone down.
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Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.