Nadja Drygalla Leaves Olympics Over Neo-Nazi-Ties

Germany's Nadja Drygalla prepares for a training session at Eton Dorney before the London 2012 Olympic Games July 25, 2012. Drygalla left the Olympic village on Friday following reports that her boyfriend was a far-right extremist. The German Olympic Committee said Drygalla, who had already finished competing at the Games as part of the women's rowing eight team, left of her own accord after a 90-minute conversation German officials. Picture taken July 25, 2012. REUTERS/Jim Young

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Nadja Drygalla, a German rower who already competed at the Olympics, is on her way home from London a bit earlier than she intended 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.

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

"Miss Drygalla confirmed credibly her commitment to the Olympic Charter," the head of Germany's committee Michael Vesper said. "She is leaving the Olympic Village so as not to be a burden for the team."

This isn't the first time Drygalla has been connected to Germany's far-right. According to German broadcaster DW, she was connected to another neo-Nazi in March of 2011. This forced her to resign from the Mecklenburg-Western Pomeranian police force.

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.

Greek triple jumper Voula Papachristou was expelled by her national organizing committee before the Olympics began after she made a racist comment on Twitter against Africans. Similarly, a Swiss soccer player was removed from his team for comments about the South Korean team.

The difference between Drygalla and the other two is the German organizing committee said she is still in line with the Olympic ideal. She made the choice to leave because of the distraction it could bring to the German Olympians.