Russian gymnast handed one-year ban for sporting pro-war symbol

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 18 May 2022

Russian artistic gymnast Ivan Kuliak is handed a one-year ban by the International Gymnastics Federation after sporting a pro-war symbol at a World Cup event.

The International Gymnastics Federation has announced that Russian artistic gymnast Ivan Kuliak has been handed a one-year ban after sporting a pro-war symbol at an Apparatus World Cup event in Doha two months ago.

The 20-year-old was pictured wearing the "Z" symbol on his leotard while collecting his bronze medal in the parallel bars, as Ukraine's Illia Kovtun took the title.

Kuliak's actions sparked outrage following the invasion of Ukraine, but the gymnast refused to apologise and insisted that he would wear the pro-war symbol again.

Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak wearing the "Z" pro-invasion symbol on his shirt while sharing a podium with a Ukrainian rival on Saturday.

Kuliak finished third - behind winner Ukraine's Illia Kovtun in the parallel bars at a World Cup event in Doha. pic.twitter.com/evtG1iEBgq
— Megha Mohan (@meghamohan) March 6, 2022

Now, the FIG has confirmed that Kuliak will not be permitted to compete at events sanctioned by the governing body and must return the bronze medal he won in Doha.

"Mr Ivan Kuliak, a Russian artistic gymnast, has been sanctioned by the Disciplinary Commission of the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation (GEF) for violating FIG rules when he wore the letter "Z" during the FIG Apparatus World Cup that took place in Doha in March 2022," a statement read.

"Mr Kuliak breached the FIG Statutes, the FIG Code of Discipline, the FIG Code of Ethics and the FIG Code of Conduct when he wore the letter "Z" on his singlet during the competition and the award ceremony at the FIG Apparatus World Cup in Doha in March 2022.

"Mr Kuliak is disqualified from the Doha FIG Apparatus World Cup and he will return the bronze medal and the prize money of CHF 500.- or the equivalent in US dollar.

"Mr Kuliak is not allowed to participate in any FIG-sanctioned event or competition organised by an affiliated FIG member federation for one year as of the date of this decision. If the protective measures keeping Russian athletes from competing are still in place on 17 May 2023, the ban shall continue and expire six months after the removal of said measures."

Kuliak has 21 days to appeal the decision.