Ban On Russian Gymnast For Wearing Pro-war Symbol
Bern, May 18: Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak has been banned for one year for wearing a national war symbol on the podium at an event in Qatar in March.
The gymnast had won bronze in the parallel bars final of the Apparatus World Cup. He displayed the letter ‘Z’ taped to his chest while standing next to Ukraine’s Illia Kovtun, who won gold.
The letter became a symbol of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It was painted on the sides of Russian military vehicles and worn by pro-war politicians in Russia.
According to BBC, Kuliak must now return his medal, but has a right to appeal within 21 days. After a probe by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), Kuliak was sanctions by the disciplinary commission of the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation (GEF) for violating FIG rules.
The FIG said, “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 gymnast will have to repay his prize money of 500 Swiss francs (£403) and pay a contribution of the costs of the proceedings in the sum of 2,000 Swiss francs (£1,612), BBC reported.
