It's a simple letter, but it should cost him dearly.
This weekend, a Russian gymnast, Ivan Kuliak, expressed his approval of Vladimir Putin's policy in Ukraine.
Bronze medalist in the parallel bars event (won by Ukrainian Kovtun Illia) at the Gymnastics World Cup in Doha (Qatar), the 20-year-old athlete, who was competing under a neutral banner, climbed on the podium by proudly displaying a "Z" on his shirt instead of his Federation's logo.
This military symbol, mainly inscribed on tanks and combat vehicles, allows Russian troops to recognize themselves on Ukrainian soil.
A few days ago, the Russian Foreign Minister also explained that this sign means "victory".
“Shocking behavior” for the Federation
But the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has condemned the "shocking behavior" of the Russian gymnast, who now faces a long ban for wearing this symbol of support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement, the FIG said it would ask the gymnastics ethics committee to open disciplinary proceedings against Ivan Kuliak following his gesture.
Although she did not specify the range of potential sanctions the Russian could face, a source told English newspaper The Guardian that the FIG has "the power to ban a gymnast from any of its events, sanctioned for as long as she wishes".
At this point, however, it still seems unlikely that Ivan Kuliak will see his medal stripped.
