The disciplinary commission of the Gymnastic Ethics Foundation (GEF) suspended the president of the All-Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation and the head coach of the national team Irina Viner-Usmanova from international competitions for two years. This was reported on the website of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
Viner-Usmanova is prohibited from participating in any events under the auspices of the federation in any role, including as a coach or head of a delegation. The deadline will be counted "one day after the lifting of the FIG safeguards related to the Russian-Ukrainian war, provided that the FIG safeguards are lifted within five years from the date of this decision." If this happens later than five years, then the period of ineligibility will be reduced to the length of time remaining between the time the protective measures were lifted and the seven-year anniversary of the decision.
The investigation of the disciplinary commission was connected with the public statements that Viner-Usmanova made after the Russian rhythmic gymnastics team failed to take gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. These statements were deemed offensive and violated the rules of the Federation. Another reason for the proceedings was the removal of Natalia Kuzmina from the elections to the FIG technical committee in rhythmic gymnastics in 2021. Russia withdrew Kuzmina's candidacy after Viner-Usmanov criticized her refereeing at the Olympics. The FIG Technical Committee did not find any errors in the actions of the arbitrators.
The decision of the disciplinary commission can be appealed within 21 days.
On March 4, 2022, shortly after the start of a full-scale invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine, the International Gymnastics Federation announced that athletes from Russia and Belarus will not be able to compete under the auspices of the FIG.
