MIAMI — The demise of Konstantin Koltsov, the Belarusian former professional hockey participant and boyfriend {of professional} tennis participant Aryna Sabalenka, has been dominated an obvious suicide, the Miami-Dade Police Division mentioned Tuesday. Koltsov was 42.
Police mentioned in a press release despatched to Reuters that Bal Harbour Police and Hearth Rescue had responded to a name at 12:39 a.m. Monday at St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort about studies of a person leaping off a balcony.
“No foul play is suspected,” the Miami-Dade Police Division mentioned in a press release, including that the murder bureau has taken over the investigation.
Koltsov was a ahead with the Belarus nationwide workforce within the 2002 and 2010 Olympics and performed 144 video games over elements of three seasons with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins from 2002 to 2006. The 1999 first-round draft decide had 12 objectives and 26 assists with the Penguins.
His demise was confirmed by Russian membership Salavat Yulaev Ufa, the place he was an assistant coach for the previous two seasons. He additionally was an assistant on workers for the Belarus males’s nationwide workforce.
“Konstantin was one of many undisputable leaders of our workforce, a proficient progressive coach, a brilliant participant,” nationwide workforce coach Dmitry Baskov mentioned in a press release. “He was an instance of durability, arduous work, dedication and an idol for a lot of Belarusian boys and his colleagues. It is arduous and unfair when such individuals depart so early.”
Koltsov performed most of his profession within the Russian Superleague, which morphed into the KHL, ending with Dynamo Minsk in 2015-16 and going into teaching. Koltsov gained a Gagarin Cup championship with Salavat Yulaev Ufa as a participant in 2010-11.
“He was a robust and cheerful particular person, he was beloved and revered by gamers, colleagues, and followers,” the workforce mentioned in a press release. “[Koltsov] without end wrote himself into the historical past of our membership.”
Sabalenka, the world’s No. 2 ladies’s tennis participant and Australian Open champion, is in Miami for the Miami Open, a WTA occasion. She had not withdrawn from the match as of late Tuesday afternoon.
Messages despatched to Sabalenka’s publicist and match officers looking for remark weren’t instantly returned to The Related Press.
Sabalenka was working towards Tuesday whereas sporting all black. She has a first-round bye and is scheduled to make her preliminary look within the 2024 version of the match within the second spherical Thursday, when she would face Paula Badosa, who beat two-time main champion Simona Halep on Tuesday.
“She’s certainly one of my finest mates,” Badosa mentioned of Sabalenka. “After all, I do know what she’s going by way of. Actually, for me hasn’t been straightforward, too. I actually do not know what to say, actually. She’s a robust lady. I believe she’s going to get the ability from someplace.”
Caroline Wozniacki additionally supplied her help and sympathy for Sabalenka.
“I really like Aryna,” she mentioned. “I believe she’s such an excellent particular person. She’s all the time so glad and on the market. To see her undergo that, it is heartbreaking.”
There can be no information conferences following Sabalenka’s matches.
Reuters, The Related Press and ESPN’s D’Arcy Maine contributed to this report.
