Photo: Claro Sports
TheInternational Gymnastics Federation(FIG) is calling for disciplinary action after a Russian athlete wore a “Z” symbol next to a Ukrainian athlete after a competition.
The incident took place at the Apparatus World Cup in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday, when Ivan Kuliak was seen with a “Z” — a symbol seemingly being used to show support for Russian’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine — displayed on his chest as he took the podium following a bronze win on the parallel bars,CNNreported. Ukraine’s Illia Kovtun, who won gold, was also on the podium.
Ina statementfollowing the incident, the FIG confirmed “that it will ask theGymnastics Ethics Foundationto open disciplinary proceedings against” Kuliak, 20, “following his shocking behavior at the Apparatus World Cup in Doha, Qatar.”
The group also said it “adopted further measures against Russia and Belarus” on Friday — namely, that athletes and judges from those two countries “arenot allowed to take part in FIG competitionsor FIG-sanctioned competitions.”
Vasily Titov, head of the Artistic Gymnastics Federation of Russia (FSGR), told Russian outletMoskovskij Komsomolets(MK) on Monday that he didn’t believe Kuliak “wanted to make a special demonstration, but we will support him in any case,” according to CNN’s translated citation of the article postedon FSGR’s website.
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Russia’sattack on Ukrainecontinues after their forces launched a large-scale invasion on Feb. 24 — the first major land conflict in Europe in decades.
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With NATO forces massing in the region around Ukraine, various countries have also pledged aid or military support to the resistance. Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyycalled for peace talks — so far unsuccessful — while urging his country to fight back.
Putin, 69, insists Ukraine has historic ties to Russia and he is acting in the best security interests of his country. Zelenskyy, 44, vowed not to bend.
“Nobody is going to break us, we’re strong, we’re Ukrainians,” Zelenskyytold the European Unionin a speech in the early days of the fighting, adding, “Life will win over death. And light will win over darkness.”
source: people.com
