Russia ban likely to extend to qualifying for world gymnastics championships

A ban on Russian gymnasts from international competition due to the war in Ukraine will likely keep its Olympic champion teams from qualifying outright for this fall’s world championships.

The European Championships, the lone pathway for European nations to qualify teams for gymnastics worlds in October and November, start next week. Russia and Belarus athletes have been barred by the European Gymnastics federation (UEG) and the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) until further notice since early March after Russia invaded Ukraine.

When asked if Russia could be reinstated in time to compete at the European Championships that start Aug. 11 in Munich, a UEG spokesperson responded with text from and a link to the early March ban announcement. The competition’s detailed gymnastics schedule does not include Russia in its list of participating nations.

Russia’s gymnastics federation appealed both the UEG and FIG bans to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). When asked if a decision on the appeals was expected before the European Championships, a CAS spokesperson said Tuesday, “The procedures are ongoing and the decisions are not expected to be announced in the coming days.”

When asked how, if at all, Russia can qualify teams for the world championships without participating at the European Championships, an FIG spokesperson noted the current ban and said the federation will not comment further “as a CAS decision is awaited.”

Last week, the head of Russia’s gymnastics federation reportedly said there is no chance Russian gymnasts will be allowed to compete at worlds.

Bans on Russian athletes in most Olympic sports kept them out of other world championships this summer, including in aquatics and track and field.

Long