Ties to neo-Nazi group prompt German rower to leave London Olympics

German rower Nadja Drygalla competes in Heat 1 of the Women's Eight on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Eton Dorney on July 29, 2012 in Windsor, England. / Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

German rower Nadja Drygalla competes in Heat 1 of the Women's Eight on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Eton Dorney on July 29, 2012 in Windsor, England.

/ Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

(CBS/AP) Here's an unofficial tally of reasons Olympic athletes and coaches have been sent packing from the 2012 London Games: racist tweets, doping, drunk driving, booze-fueled rampages, and throwing badminton matches.

Now we can add a new one to the list: ties to a neo-Nazi group.

German Olympic officials said Friday that a rower had left the Olympics after a broadcaster reported that her boyfriend is a supporter of an extreme right-wing party in Germany.

Nadja Drygalla, a member of the women's eight crew, planned to leave the Olympic village to avoid any "burden for the Olympic team," said Michael Vesper, general director of the national Olympic association.

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According to Yahoo Sports, "Drygalla's boyfriend is reportedly a leader of the Rostock National Socialists, a group German intelligence describes as neo-Nazi and racist."

Vesper said he and German rowing officials met with Drygalla, who "stressed credibly" she is "committed to the values of the Olympic charter."

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said he did not think it was an issue for the IOC "because she hasn't said or done anything related to the games."

Drygalla was done competing at the games after the women's eight team failed to make Thursday's final.

Drygalla is a former police trainee. The state interior ministry in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania said it learned last year that her acquaintances included people who belong to the far-right scene.

A ministry statement said that "intensive talks" were held with Drygalla and she resigned from the force last September.

According to German broadcaster DW, photos of Drygalla with right-wing extremists have been circulated on the Internet.

[NB501]

African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos were banned from the 1968 Olympics in Mexico for doing the "black power" straight arm fist salute on the podium. The German rower did nothing of the sort, but for going on an extreme right march while training to join the police force, I seriously question her judgment. She needs to grow up, and her boyfriend has caused her enough trouble already. The NPD will never get elected, most Germans may be anti-mass immigration, but they will not allow their country to be turned into North Korea by the NPD either.

[bbarnes5557]

She does look like a true Aryan you got to admit...

[fredisalive]

i think we found someone that could really appeal to the blue color workers in the south and help shore up Robme's chances

[raymailhot]

National socialists workers party (NAZI) sounds like capitalism?

I wish the liberals would stop giving their mistakes away!

[retiredgustav]

raymailho.... The reason the Nazi got into power and were supported by many of our prominent business people is because they were not communist.

[Verascity]

Good riddance.

[JustSayIt]

I think Romney and the right have found their VP candidate.

[raymailhot]

National socialists workers party (NAZI) sounds like capitalism?

I wish the socialists would stop giving their mistakes away!

[andyk1234]

Half the people here sound like blabbering morons.

"Bu-bu-bu-but da gubmint is takin away her free speeeeeeech!!!!"

She was never forced into dating a Neo-Nazi, and even after it was found out, she was never forced to leave her rowing team by anyone. She was so ashamed that it was found out and she didn't want her career to be centered around that. Jeez, people...

[justme-123]

to mechinc: Perhaps you don't understand that in rowing the teams have races in which the fastest wins. They do not win on the basis of a judge giving them points for nicest boat.

[vielmann]

Its her boyfriend!
This is such BS. The girl has trained for years for this. Let her row!!!!<<<<<<<<

Actually, she left the police force due to her associations. So it goes far beyond just her boyfriend. She is more than just a girlfriend to a Nazi.

[micmac666]

"Drygalla was done competing at the games after the women's eight team failed to make Thursday's final." 'Moot point.

[BWB2020]

@T-Torquemada

It would be a good thing if we were.

Nazi, and the attendant far right ideals are ideas whose time is up, time to sweep out the garbage from all of society

[vielmann]

Well, good! Wir brauchen keine Leute wie sie.

[vielmann]

Es ist ganz klar, dass du kein Deutsch sprechen kannst. Nazis muessen draussen bleiben!

[I_am_3rd]

Each athlete is at the mercy of their own Olympic Committee. It is what they signed on for, so don't shed any tears. I do fail to see how the new National Socialists are "extreme right wing" as the author puts it. Wouldn't they be "extreme left wing"? He is presuming that racism is the sole province of the 'right'.

[andyk1234]

The Olympic Committee did approximately jack squat to make her leave. She totally chose it herself.

Also, you need to read a book. The National Socialists are only socialists in name in an attempt to appeal to the working class. They call for basically anarchy (lack of government) and inequality for other races, homosexuals, the disabled, etc. Doesn't sound very "left-wing" to me.

[vielmann]

In Europe, National Socialism is not considered territory of left wing ideology. It is completely right wing extremism. In the U.S., all such groups: Christian Identity, KKK, etc. consider themselves right wing, as well.

[daffy64]

She should go back and tell her boyfriend that the "master race" isn't winning all that much.

[Eisaak]

thank you. That was funny!