The Russian gymnast sported a “Z” in support of the Russian military during the Doha World Cup event on Saturday.
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The image went around the world and stunned more than one. Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak, third in the Doha World Cup in Qatar, in the men’s parallel bars event on Saturday March 5, wore the “Z” symbol of the Russian army in the conflict on his competition suit. against Ukraine. At the end of the afternoon on Sunday, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) announced in a press release sent to franceinfo: sport ask “at the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation ofinitiate disciplinary proceedings” against the athlete “as a result of his shocking behavior.”
The Gymnastics Ethics Foundation is the body responsible for maintaining safety and fairness in gymnastics. The next few days will be decisive for these two bodies, which will have to position themselves in response to the gesture of Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak. The podium of the competition, with Ivan Kuliak, third, and the Ukrainian Illia Kovtun, winner, was tense. The two athletes took care to avoid each other as much as possible.
The FIG has also confirmed adopting new measures against Russia and Belarus in starting March 7. From Monday, Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, including judges, will no longer be allowed to participate in FIG competitions, nor FIG-stamped competitions.