Along with Kuliak, Russian gymnastics head coach Valentina Rodionenko might be facing a one year ban. Rodionenko was the head of the Russia...
Along with Kuliak, Russian gymnastics head coach Valentina Rodionenko might be facing a one year ban.
Rodionenko was the head of the Russian delegation at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, when Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak wore the letter Z, a symbol of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, during competition and medal ceremony which he shared with Ukrainian Illia Kovtun.
"On March 9th, I, the coach on the floor, and Vanya Kuliak got messages from the FIG’s Disciplinary Commission that our case is being considered. The proposal is the disqualification of all three of us, stripping Vanya of the medal and the prize money, a fine of 500 CHF for me and the coach on the floor. There isn’t much hope for a positive outcome, you know the current attitudes in Europe and the world. We’re under sanctions like all other sports. Although, a lot will depend on the lawyers, of course," Rodioneko told R-Sport.
The 85 year old coach stressed that they did not break the rule accusing the Ukrainian delegation of deliberately provoking them.
"They [the Ukrainian gymnasts] broke competition rules for which, among other things, the punishment is lowering the score or even removal from the competition. They wouldn’t go out to the award ceremony if our [athletes] were on the medal podium. Overall, it was bullying, they were simply humiliating the country through our delegation, I can’t put it any other way. But we had no clashes or talks with them at all. And in the end, when we got home, it turned out we were to blame," she continued, according to Gymnovosti translation.
During the uneven bars medal ceremony, Ukraine's Daniela Batrona came out on her own with the Ukrainian flag draped over her shoulders. She received her bronze medal then left the podium.
The Russian gymnasts, Viktoria Listunova and Maria Minaeva who won gold and silver respectively, then came out separately to receive their medals.
Rodionenko said that the [Russian] federation will submit their statements for the upcoming disciplinary hearing, which is set to be held between March 28 and April 1.
"Although we’ve already written our explaining statements and send them to the lawyers. We’ll see, there’s always hope, although not much of it, to be honest, considering the situation around Russia."
Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, including judges have been banned from taking part in FIG competitions or FIG-sanctioned competitions - starting from March 7th until further notice.
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