Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak, who wore the Russian pro war symbol Z to competition, has received a one year ban according to the Internati...
Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak, who wore the Russian pro war symbol Z to competition, has received a one year ban according to the International Gymnastics Federation's website.
"Mr Kuliak breached the FIG Statutes, the FIG Code of Discipline, the FIG Code of Ethics, the FIG Code of Conduct and the FIG Technical Regulations when he wore the letter “Z” on his singlet during the competition and the award ceremony at the FIG Apparatus World Cup in Doha in March 2022," the website reads.
"Mr Kuliak breached the FIG Statutes, the FIG Code of Discipline, the FIG Code of Ethics, the FIG Code of Conduct and the FIG Technical Regulations."
"Mr Kuliak is not allowed to participate in any FIG-sanctioned event or competition organised by an affiliated FIG member federation for one year as of the date of this decision. If the protective measures keeping Russian athletes from competing are still in place on 17 May 2023, the ban shall continue and expire six months after the removal of said measures."
The 20 year old gymnast wore the symbol while performing on the parallel bars at the event final at the Doha cup last March, where he won a bronze medal.
He also wore it on the podium which he shared with Ukrainian gymnast and gold medalist Illia Kovtun.
Besides the one year ban, Kuliak will be disqualified from the Doha FIG Apparatus World Cup. He is also ordered to return the bronze medal and the prize money of CHF 500, and to pay a contribution of the costs of the proceedings in the sum of CHF 2,000.
Since Kuliak's result will be disqualified from the parallel bars final, fourth place finisher Ivan Tikhonov of Azerbaijan will be awarded with bronze, although no official statement has been released yet regarding it.
Russian head coach Valentina Rodionenko and Russian coach Igor Kalabushkin won't be facing any ban as their charges have been dismissed.
Rodionenko was the head of the Russian delegation at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The FIG is obliged to pay CHF 1,000 to Rodionenko and Kalabushkin as a cost contribution and a contribution to the costs of the proceedings of CHF 4,000.
Many Russian gymnasts have come to Kuliak's defense including Tokyo Olympic champion Nikita Nagornyy, and 2012 and 2016 Olympic vault medalist Maria Paseka.
Alexei Nemov, who is one of the most celebrated Russian gymnasts, wrote an Instagram post to his defense which was liked by a number of high profile Russian gymnasts including Tokyo Olympic champion Vladislava Urazova and Angelina Melnikova, 2000 Sydney Olympic champion Elena Zamoloditchkova, and 2010 World champion Tatiana Nabieva.
Kuliak has previously said that he has no regrets regarding his actions at the World Cup and that if he had a chance to do it again, he'd do the same.
It is worth mentioning that he landed a sponsorship deal with Zasport, a Russian clothing manufacturer and official outfitter for the Russian Olympic team, in the same month.
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