Zakharova called discrimination the removal of Irina Viner from international competitions

The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, believes that the removal of the head coach of the Russian team Irina Viner from international competitions in rhythmic gymnastics is another example of discrimination against Russian athletes. 6 March Suspension informed International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

According to Maria Zakharova, the Foreign Ministry regards the incident as “an encroachment by Western political functionaries on the independence of sports” and its destruction. “This is gymnastics, this is refereeing, these are international institutions that regulate sports and much, much more,” Ms. Zakharova said at a briefing (TASS quote). She pointed out that such decisions destroy the entire world sport.

The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry assured that the principles of the independence of sports can be the development of equal cooperation, excluding politicization, as well as ensuring equal access of all countries to international competitions.

“We intend to defend this approach together with all sane representatives of the international sports community,” Maria Zakharova summed up.

The disciplinary commission of the Gymnastic Ethics Foundation suspended Irina Viner from international competitions for two years. The suspension is due to the “offensive statements” of the coach in the media after the defeat of the Russian rhythmic gymnastics team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The statements of the coach of the Russian team violate the FIG rules, the disciplinary commission said in a statement.

The period of disqualification will be calculated not from the moment the decision is published, but after the lifting of sanctions imposed on all domestic gymnastics after the start of a special military operation in Ukraine. On March 4, 2022, the FIG banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in competitions under its auspices.

Lusine Balasyan