Rewriting Russian Gymnastics

Russia’s sporting sanctions date back to 2015, when investigations into state-sponsored doping led to widespread bans across international competitions. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) imposed restrictions that prevented Russian athletes from competing at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics under their national flag or anthem - with the exception of the gymnasts, whose sport is clean and free from doping. Then, in 2022 Russia began a war with Ukraine that is continuing to today.  Sanctions were levied across all sectors of society, including individuals, corporations and - controversially - sport and culture.  In Olympic sport, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) decided that the decision to ban Russia from international competitions should be made by sporting federations, such as the FIG (Federation Internationale de Gymnastique).  Remnants of the sanctions dating back to the discovery of state doping were still in operation...

At 4 o'clock this morning BST, the IOC Executive Board made an announcement to the effect that three individuals appointed by them will have a final say on which Russian athletes can compete at the Rio Olympic Games. 'Participation of Russian athletes in Rio The EB decided to delegate the final decision on the acceptance of entries of Russian athletes to a Review Panel composed of three IOC Executive Board Members: Uğur Erdener, Claudia Bokel and Juan Antonio Samaranch.  The Review Panel is due to make a final decision in the coming days.' RRG's take on this This latest, very last minute twist in the controversy surrounding Russia's participation in the Games, suggests that the IOC has a degree of concern over the likely consistency of decisions taken by the sports' governing bodies to whom they delegated decision making only a few days ago.   It is difficult to see how an appointed panel of three individuals will have time to consider the data pres...

Argumentyi i Fakti interview with Aliya Mustafina Translated by Marina Vulis ‘I have no fear’, says Aliya Mustafina.   ‘My father [Farhat Mustafin, the bronze medallist in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1976 Olympics] took me to my first gymnastics class.   In his opinion children need to do sports, and he saw gymnastics as useful for my general development.   He had no goals – just to let us practice.’ It did not end with ‘just practice’ – she became the World Champion at 16, but then had an ACL injury the next year (2011) at the Europeans.   Even just returning to gymnastics is a feat; then she came back to win four medals at the 2012 Olympics. Aliya Mustafina – That injury.   I do not know why I was ashamed – so many people were watching me and I could not even walk.   My parents!   They saw everything on TV (the coach had to carry her from the podium).   Of course I was aware that anything could happen in gymnastics, but I di...

Picture of Aliya Mustafina courtesy of Aliya on Instagram RSport interview with Ildra Samdinov Translation by Marina Vulis Interview took place before the IOC decision to allow Russian gymnasts to compete at the Rio Olympics, on the 22nd July 2016 'Skipping the Olympics will not break me, but I would be hurting for the young girls' How would you assess your readiness for the Olympics? Everything is going well.  Not everything is ideal, but at the moment it doesn't have to be.  The most important thing is that I have practiced enough routines.  My programme is ready, and there is enough time before the Olympics to polish up the nuances.  Anyone can make mistakes, but at the Olympics I will demonstrate the best that can be squeezed out of me.   Are there any problems for the Russian team in terms of Olympics preparation? Everything is going well. We certainly feel the support of our bank VTB, and we have no problems. You ...