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...
Reporting and analysing Russian gymnastics since 2010. Includes original and exclusive interviews with leading coaches and gymnasts, and historical issues dating back to the Soviet Union. The first blog to report extensively on the sport using Russian language sources. I read, I argue, and I have opinions. Be warned.