Scandal gymnast Ivan Kuliak has been banned for at least a year by the world association FIG. This was announced by the federation in an official statement.
At the World Cup tournament in Doha in early March, the 20-year-old Russian appeared at the award ceremony with a “Z” on his tracksuit.
Next to him on the winner’s podium was the winner Ilya Kovtun from Ukraine. The “Z symbol” represents Russia’s war of aggression in the neighboring country.
Kuliak is not allowed to take part in this year’s World Championships in Liverpool in November, nor in the European title fights in Antalya in April 2023.
Should the FIG ban of all athletes from Russia remain in effect beyond May 2023, Kuliak’s ban will be extended by at least another six months.