On February 24, the first day of competition at the Cottbus World Cup, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While no Russians competed in Cottbus, some competed at the following World Cup in Doha alongside Ukrainian athletes. During the medal ceremony for the parallel bars Russian gymnast and bronze medalist Ivan Kuliak wore a Z on his chest – a military symbol and a sign of support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine – despite sharing a podium with gold medalist Illia Kovtun, a Ukrainian athlete, and Kazakh gymnast and silver medalist Milad Karimi who lives and trains in Ukraine.[6] The FIG announced that it will ask the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation to open disciplinary proceedings against Kuliak.[7] The day before the incident the FIG announced that starting March 7 Russian and Belarusian athletes would be banned from participating in FIG-sanctioned competitions.[3]
The FIG sanctioned Kuliak with a one-year ban, ending May 17, 2023 or six months after the ban on Russian athletes is lifted and ruled that he is to be stripped of his bronze medal and prize money.[5]
^Ivan Kuliak, a neutral athlete, was stripped of his bronze medal and prize money after being sanctioned for wearing pro-war symbolism on the medal podium in relation to Russia's ongoing war with Ukraine.[5]
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