Moster was heard using a racist phrase when he urged rider Arndt to catch Algerian rider Lagab and Ghebreigzabhier of Eritrea.
![German cyclist Arndt, front, distanced himself from Moster's comments, saying he was 'appalled' [File: Tim de Waele/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021-07-24T121227Z_3910978_RC2UQO9V8OV2_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2020-CRD-M-RR-FNL-000100.jpg?resize=770%2C513)
The sporting director of Germany’s cycling team will be sent home from the Tokyo Olympics after making a racist comment about riders from Africa during the men’s time trial.
Germany’s national Olympic body (DOSB) said on Thursday that Patrick Moster would no longer act as cycling sports director during the Games and would return to Germany “shortly”.
Moster was heard on Wednesday using a racist phrase in the television broadcast of the race by Germany’s ARD network when he urged rider Nikias Arndt to catch Algerian rider Azzedine Lagab and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier of Eritrea from the side of the track at a refreshment station.
The 54-year-old was heard instructing Arndt to “get the camel drivers”.
“Mr Moster violated the Olympic values,” said DOSB president Alfons Hoermann. “Fair play, respect and tolerance are not negotiable for Team Germany.”
Moster told dpa news agency that he “made a wrong choice of words”.
“I am so sorry, I can only sincerely apologise. I didn’t want to discredit anyone,” Moster added.
In response to the racial slur, Algerian cyclist Lagab said on Twitter: “Well, There is no camel race in #olympics that’s why I came to cycling. At least I was there in Tokyo2020.”