Polish airline says it refused boarding to Russian tennis player

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - WTA 250 - Birmingham Classic - Edgbaston Priory Club, Edgbaston, Birmingham, Britain - June 13, 2021 Russia's Vitalia Diatchenko in action during her qualifying round match against Britain's Naiktha Bains Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

WARSAW (Reuters) - A Russian tennis player was refused boarding to a flight operated by Polish flag carrier LOT, the airline confirmed on Tuesday, in an incident that drew an angry response from the athlete on social media.

Tennis player Vitalia Diatchenko said on Monday she was refused boarding to a LOT flight in Cairo, with German airline Lufthansa then also refusing to sell her a ticket.