FSGR President Titov: they couldn't risk Kulyak's career and burn all the bridges

MOSCOW, July 11, Sergey Smyshlyaev.The Russian Artistic Gymnastics Federation (FSGR) could not risk the career of gymnast Ivan Kulyak and burn all the bridges, allowing him to participate in the Russian Cup, Vasily Titov, president of the FSGR, said in an interview. Earlier, an official statement was made on the FSGR website that Kulyak would not accept participation in international and domestic competitions at least until the decision of the appeal committee of the independent Gymnastics Ethics Foundation (GEF). Initially, the gymnast was supposed to take part in the Russian Cup, which was held in Kaluga on July 4-10. His absence from the competition caused a wide negative resonance. «First, we are doing everything to protect the interests of Ivan Kulyak legally,» Titov emphasized. «, from this point of view, is provided with everything necessary. On the other hand, the law is harsh, but it is the law. And since this decision, which we do not consider fair, is in force and valid, we are obliged to comply with it. Unfortunately, with this decision, Ivan suspended from internal competitions including, that is, competitions that are held under the auspices of the FSGR.” «We did not want to risk the athlete. I understand that here, in Kaluga, everyone knows him, they are proud, Vanya is a Kaluga resident, from Obninsk. Of course, I would like him to compete (at the Cup Russia). But rules are rules, they must be followed. I don’t think we should burn all the bridges and deprive ourselves of the opportunity to protect the interests of both the athlete and the entire federation as a whole,” said the head of the FSGR. the letter Z, which became an unofficial symbol of support for the special operation in Ukraine. The athlete himself later explained that this was a response to provocations by Ukrainian gymnasts. The GEF opened a disciplinary case against Kulyak. In May, the disciplinary committee of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) disqualified the athlete for one year .Full interview with Vasily Titov read on the site rsport.ria.ru on Monday.