The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has sanctioned the Russian gymnast Iván Kuliak with one year without competing for having worn the letter ‘Z’ on his shirt, a symbol of Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, during the World Cup in Doha , also at the medal ceremony .
A panel of the FIG’s disciplinary commission decided that Kuliak “had violated the organization’s statutes, code of ethics, conduct and technical regulations” when he wore the ‘Z’ in the Qatari capital last March. “Mr Kuliak may not participate in any FIG-approved event or competition organized by an affiliated member federation for one year,” he said in a statement.
In addition, the Russian athlete “is disqualified from the FIG Apparatus World Cup in Doha and will return the bronze medal and the prize money of 500 Swiss francs or the equivalent in US dollars,” it added. In addition, he must pay 2,000 Swiss francs as a contribution to the costs of the proceedings opened against him.
“They started this whole political movement and in response to this behavior I appeared with the ‘Z’. The Ukrainians were wrapped in their flag and shouted ‘Glory to Ukraine’ on the podium. According to the rules, that is not allowed, but nobody He said nothing. They also demanded that we Russians be excluded even though we had not said or done anything,” the Russian gymnast justified at the time.
However, the FIG acquitted the head of the Russian delegation, Valentina Rodionenko, and the coach, Igor Kalabushkin. Kulyak can appeal the decision within 21 days, something Russia has already announced it will do. Kuliak taped the “Z” to the front of his competition uniform, on his chest, where the Russian flag should have been.
In compliance with international sanctions on Russian sport, gymnasts could only compete without their national symbols. In a defiance of the rules, Kuliak, who was a bronze medalist in the parallels, a test won by the Ukrainian Illia Kovtun, competed and climbed on the podium with the ‘Z’, did not shake hands with Kovtun and tried to get out of the joint photo of the medalists, until he was forced to appear.
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