Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak has been condemned by the gymnastics’ governing body for his “shocking behavior,” as the gymnast now faces a long ban for wearing a symbol, the letter “Z”, in support of his country’s invasion of Ukraine on the World Cup medal podium while standing next to a Ukrainian gymnast.
Kuliak won a bronze medal in the parallel bars final at the Apparatus World Cup, which took place in Doha. He taped the letter “Z” on the front of his gymnast outfit before going up on the podium, taking his place next to the gold medallist, Ukrainian Illia Kovtun.
“Z” is now regarded to represent support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. “Z” has popped up on Russian tanks and vehicles in Ukraine. Because of this, the choice to put the “Z” on his outfit, especially while standing next to a Ukrainian, was seen as particularly incendiary.
The Russian flag was already banned by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Following the medal ceremony, FIG released a statement that it will ask the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation to open disciplinary proceedings against Kuliak “following his shocking behavior.”
In the overseeing body’s 2022 statutes, article 42.3 regards disciplinary measures that can be imposed on an individual, legal entity, or a Federation. It includes the cancellation of competition results, meaning that Kuliak could be stripped of his bronze medal. It also includes the proscription to participate in events and other international events, meaning a lengthy ban from gymnastics is on the discipline table.
Ukraine’s 2016 Olympic parallel bars champion Oleg Verniaiev immediately criticized Kuliak’s comments on Instagram, writing “let the Russians not shout that sport os out of politics,” and then congratulating the Ukrainian winner, adding “glory to Ukraine.”
This week, all gymnasts from Russia and Belarus, as well as officials and judges, were suspended from all future FIG-sanctioned competitions.
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