Gymnast suspended for letter Z cannot compete in national tournaments

MOSCOW, Jul 3Russian gymnast Ivan Kulyak will not take part in international and domestic competitions at least until the decision of the appeal committee of the independent Gymnastics Ethics Foundation (GEF), according to a statement on the website of the Russian Artistic Gymnastics Federation (FSGR). Kulyak in early March at the World Cup in Doha went to the award ceremony with the letter Z printed on the uniform, 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. GEF opened a disciplinary case against Kulyak. In May, the disciplinary committee of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) disqualified the athlete for one year. Initially, the gymnast was supposed to take part in the Russian Cup, which will be held in Kaluga from July 4 to July 10. «In accordance with the decision of the disciplinary commission of the Gymnastic Ethics Foundation of May 17, 2022, Ivan Kulyak is not allowed to participate in events held under the auspices of the International Gymnastics Federation ( FIG), as well as in competitions organized by an affiliated federation — a member of the FIG, within one year from the date of this decision. Russian lawyers defending Ivan Kulyak applied to the disciplinary commission for clarification regarding the participation of a gymnast in competitions organized by an affiliated federation, and received the answer is that in accordance with this decision, a member of the Russian national team does not have the right to participate in competitions held by the FSGR,» the FSGR said in a statement. «The Artistic Gymnastics Federation of Russia, of course, does not agree with the decision of the disciplinary commission, and on June 7 2022 on behalf of Ivan Kulyak, lawyers filed the corresponding pending appeal to the Appeals Tribunal of the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation. The hearing is to be scheduled for August 15, 2022. In connection with the above, we confirm that Ivan Kulyak will not participate in the upcoming Russian Cup, as well as other international and Russian competitions held by the FSGR, at least until a decision is made by the Appeal Tribunal of the independent Gymnastic Ethics Foundation,» the federation added.