The Russian Ivan Kuliak joined the ranks of discredited athletes who supported his country’s attack on Ukraine. The athlete, who finished third at the World Cup in artistic gymnastics in Doha, proudly displayed the symbol of the Russian invasion on the podium.
The behavior of Ivan Kuliak was all the more scandalous that on his left side, on the highest step of the podium, stood a Ukrainian – Ilya Kovtun.
The International Gymnastic Federation did not react for a long time to the shameful gesture of Ivan Kuliak. Until she finally did it on Sunday. She announced the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the Russian. For Kuliak, it was the last chance for a political demonstration. The federation made a decision that in the next competitions in Cairo and Baku, athletes from and from Belarus will not start.
Kamil Bortniczuk thunders after the Russian’s scandalous gesture. She wants to kick him out of the sport
However, the issue of the penalty for Kuliak remains to be determined. The Polish Minister of Sport has no doubts about it. From the beginning of the Russian invasion, he has voiced the view that Russians should be excluded from all sports around the world. Now he is calling on the International Gymnastics Federation to punish Kuliak with life disqualification.
In this case, Bortniczuk sent a letter to the federation authorities. “The scandalous behavior of the Russian athlete Ivan Kuliyak during the World Gymnastics Championships in Doha clearly shows that international sports competitions can become an arena for Putin’s propaganda. The athlete’s disgraceful gesture contradicts not only the fundamental values of the world of sport, but was also used as a very specific tool , unworthy of an athlete to legitimize the war in Ukraine. I warned against such situations from the very beginning of the Russian armed attack on Ukraine, “he wrote in a letter he received.
“I appreciate the decision of the International Gymnastics Federation to exclude Russian athletes and activists from participating in the next FIG competitions, but time has shown that it was made too late. At the same time, I call on FIG to issue a lifetime disqualification for Ivan Kuliak, because only this disciplinary penalty will be appropriate. strict and at the same time will act as a deterrent “- appeals Bortniczuk.
Source: Sport
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
