The International Gymnastics Federation confirmed on their website that it will ask the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation to open disciplinary p...
The International Gymnastics Federation confirmed on their website that it will ask the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation to open disciplinary proceedings against Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak following his shocking behavior at the Apparatus World Cup in Doha, Qatar.
The 20 year old gymnast wore the letter Z, which is believed to be a symbol of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, showing his support for his country's invasion of Ukraine while competing at the 2022 Doha World Cup which was held from 2 to 5 March 2022.
Kuliak wore the symbol while performing on the parallel bars at the event final at the Doha cup, where he won a bronze medal.
He also wore it on the podium which he shared with Ukrainian gymnast and gold medalist Illia Kovtun.
Kuliak reportedly underwent military training with the Russian army recently.
The Russian gymnast's behavior has provoked public outrage, with many international media outlets reporting it.
On Twitter:
Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak wears ‘Z’ war symbol on podium next to Ukrainian athlete Illia Kovtun https://t.co/nCbVDGIC0s
— Jack Mendel 🗞️ (@Mendelpol) March 6, 2022
Yeah, this is why Russia needs to be banned in sport, until its bloody war ends, and Putin is held accountable. Sport is used for politics.
WTF Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak caused outrage by wearing a national Z war symbol on the podium.
— Markus Sanderus (@MarkusSanderus) March 6, 2022
Personally I am extremely happy for removing all Russian athletes from international sport - we don’t need to see this crap again. pic.twitter.com/Z1SfwyHI7B
Why ordinary Russian should suffer the sanctions? This is why. They publicly support Ukrainians being bombed, they’re excited about it and it’s normalized there.
— Експерт з поневірянь (@KryvavaPastva) March 5, 2022
Ivan Kuliak made a statement here. https://t.co/tWOU2NhtYO
A thread providing some context for the Z symbol Ivan Kuliak wore at the Doha World Cup. I hope he receives the maximum punishment possible to discourage anything like this from ever happening in @gymnastics again. https://t.co/tlS4e4lb9z
— Pamchenkova (@Pamchenkova) March 6, 2022
The FIG has adopted further measures against Russia and Belarus on 4 March. From 7 March 2022. Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, including judges, won't be allowed to take part in FIG competitions or FIG-sanctioned competitions.
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