The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) said it will open disciplinary proceedings against Russian artistic gymnast Ivan Kuliak for his “shocking behaviour” in displaying a symbol of support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during an event.
The 20-year-old finished third in the parallel bars final at the Apparatus World Cup in Doha over the weekend and displayed the letter “Z” on the front of his outfit as he stood on the podium next to Ukrain-ian rival Illia Kovtun, who won the gold. Russian forces have used the letter Z as an iden-tifying symbol on their vehicles in Ukraine following Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour. Some support-ers of the invasion have also been displaying the symbol.
“The International Gymnastics Federation con-firms that it will ask the Gymnastics Ethics Founda-tion to open disciplinary proceedings against … Kuliak following his shocking behaviour at the Ap-paratus World Cup,” the FIG said in a statement.—APP
