Gymnast Ivan Kuliak wears 'Z' at podium in apparent show of support for Russian forces, FIG condemns actions

Admiral James Foggo III (Ret.), former commander of U.S. Naval forces in Europe and African, on Russia's move to cut off Ukraine from the sea

Gymnast Ivan Kuliak stunned officials and fans on Sunday when he appeared to support Russian forces invading Ukraine at the Apparatus World Cup in Doha, Qatar.

Kuliak, a 20-year-old artistic gymnast from Kaluga, Russia, finished in third place in the parallel bars at the event and joined Ukrainian Illia Kovtun and Kazakh Milad Karimi on the podium. Kuliak was seen sporting a "Z" on his chest in an apparent show of support for the Russian military.

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In this handout photo released by Ukrainian Emergency Service, a burnt car is seen in front of a damaged City Hall building, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

As Russian forces began to move into the country last month, some tanks and other vehicles were marked with a white "Z." The symbol has been said to identify the vehicles as friendlies for Russian forces.

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) condemned the apparent show of support.

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"The International Gymnastics Federation confirms that it will ask the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation to open disciplinary proceedings against male artistic gymnast Ivan Kuliak (RUS) following his shocking behavior at the Apparatus World Cup in Doha, Qatar," FIG said in a statement.

A protester holds a "Z" sign banner, in reference to Russian tanks marked with the letter, during a rally organized by Serbian right-wing organizations in support of Russian attacks on Ukraine, in Belgrade, Serbia, March 4, 2022. Around a thousand Serbian ultra-nationalist supporters