The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) last night (Wednesday) sentenced Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak to a one-year ban following the wearing of a symbol indicating support for an invasion of Ukraine during the Doha World Cup, and denied the bronze medal he won at the event.
As a reminder, Kuliak wore the letter "Z" on his outfit during the competition in March, and also during the medal ceremony he won on the equivalent device, the shutter against the Ukrainian Ilya Kovton who was ranked in the same competition in first place.
The emblem is widely regarded as a sign of support for Russian military action, and was displayed on tanks during the invasion of Ukraine.
"It surprises me that some letters in the Latin alphabet were included in the list of bans by the International Federation and tournament organizers in Doha," the chairman of the Russian similar sports committee, Dmitry Svyshchov
, told the official state news agency TASS.
In the list of forbidden symbols, so a person can fall into sanctions.
"I personally do not see any abusive, discriminatory, nationalistic sign in Kuliak's act, as the whole ordinary cultural world does not see it, but, unfortunately, the federation can not cope with the pressure of politicians."
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