Banned Gymnast Ivan Kuliak Won't Be Allowed To Compete At The Russian Cup Over Fears Of Further Sanctions

Despite recently receiving a one year ban over his shocking behavior at the 2022 Doha World cup, Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak was set to comp...

Despite recently receiving a one year ban over his shocking behavior at the 2022 Doha World cup, Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak was set to compete at the upcoming Russian cup.

However, the Russian team's head coach Valentina Rodionenko announced that Kuliak will not be competing at the Russian cup over fears of further sanctions.

"Vanya is training but in the end, he is forbidden from competing at the Russian Cup. There is a risk that if we allow him compete at our [domestic] competitions, the whole federation may be sanctioned," Rodionenko told Tass.ru. "But he is allowed to attend training camps. As I’ve already said, Vanya is training. I can’t say that he got very upset when he learned he was forbidden from competing in Kaluga. He has a strong character and he understands the complexity of the situation very well. Vanya is not an all-arounder, he competes only on two or three events. So, he will keep working and preparing new routines."

Nine days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Internarial Gymnastics Federation announced banning Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, including judges from taking part in FIG competitions or FIG-sanctioned competitions which started from March 7th.

The 2022 Doha World Cup was the last international competition where Russian gymnasts competed before the international sport ban on Russia. There, Kuliak wore the Russian pro war symbol 'Z' while competing in the event final and during the podium ceremony where Ukraine's Illia Kovtun received his gold medal.

Subsequently, the 20 year old gymnast was banned from competition for one year. He was also disqualified from the Doha FIG Apparatus World Cup and was also ordered to return the bronze medal and the prize money of CHF 500.

Kuliak has been seen as a hero in Russia ever since. He has been praised and supported by a number of high profile Russians like Kaluga Governor Vladislav Shapsha, double Olympic champion Maria Filatova, and Olympic Russian gymnasts.

He has also landed a sponsorship deal with Zasport, a Russian clothing manufacturer and official outfitter for the Russian Olympic team.