By Steve Keating
MIAMI (Reuters) -Konstantin Koltsov, the former professional ice hockey player from Belarus and boyfriend of tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, has died in an “apparent suicide”, the Miami-Dade Police Department said on Tuesday, adding that there was no they were evidence of foul play.
Police said in a statement sent to Reuters that they responded to a call on Monday at a Miami resort about reports of a man jumping from a balcony.
“At approximately 12:39 a.m., Bal Harbor Police and Fire were dispatched to the St. Regis (NASDAQ:) Bal Harbor Resort, 9703 Collins Avenue, in reference to a man jumping from a balcony,” he Miami Dade police said. Department.
“The Miami-Dade Police Department, Homicide Bureau, responded and took over the investigation into the apparent suicide of Mr. Konstantin Koltsov.
“No foul play is suspected.”
The former forward, who was 42, played for the Belarus national team at the 2002 and 2010 Olympics and spent parts of three seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 2003 and 2006.
The Penguins confirmed Koltsov’s death and expressed the team’s condolences on the X social media platform.
“The Penguins offer their deepest condolences to the family and friends of former Penguins forward Konstantin Koltsov,” the NHL team said.
“The Belarus native was the Penguins’ first draft pick in 1999 and was with the team from 2003-2006 playing 144 NHL games. Konstantin was teammates with both Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux during the 2005- 2006.”
SABALENKA PRACTICES
Fellow Belarusian Sabalenka, world number two and Australian Open champion, is in Miami for a WTA event.
The 25-year-old has not yet withdrawn from the Miami Open and was spotted on the practice courts at Hard Rock Stadium on Tuesday, with posts across multiple media platforms showing Sabalenka hard at work in the Florida sun.
With the first round bye he will have time to decide whether to play in the Miami event, with the opening match scheduled for no earlier than Thursday or Friday.
If Sabalenka doesn’t withdraw she will have to face Romanian wildcard Simona Halep, fresh from an anti-doping disqualification, or Spain’s Paula Badosa.
Sabalenka and Koltsov were first linked in June 2021, according to People magazine, and she often posted photos of them together on her Instagram account.
“I love you @koltsov2021,” she wrote in a post that included a heart and other emojis. “Happy birthday my love. You are my dearest person, my best friend and my strongest support. Peace be with you, strength, patience and health.
“I hope we get everything we planned, I love you,” she wrote.
Koltsov also applauded Sabalenka after she won her second consecutive Australian Open title in January.