A high Russian gymnastics coach whose athletes received quite a few Olympic gold medals has been suspended following vehement criticism of judges who ended Russia’s successful streak in rhythmic gymnastics on the Tokyo Olympics.
The Gymnastics Ethics Foundation, which handles worldwide disciplinary instances, barred Irina Viner from teaching or officiating at any competitions in worldwide gymnastics for two years, in a choice revealed late Monday.
That adopted an investigation into statements made after Russian gymnasts took the silver medal within the particular person and group all-around rhythmic competitions in Tokyo in 2021. Those have been shock defeats which ended a streak of gold medals for Russia going again to 2000 in each occasions.
In feedback to Russian media, Viner steered the judges have been motivated by anti-Russian prejudice and known as the state of affairs a “disgrace.” Viner additionally allegedly retaliated towards an International Gymnastics Federation official from Russia who oversaw the judging on the Olympics by blocking her from working for re-election, and allegedly did not cooperate with the inquiry.
A abstract of the ruling on the FIG web site didn’t specify precisely which of the accusations have been upheld however mentioned Viner was discovered “liable for breach of the FIG rules”. Her comments after the Olympics were “deemed abusive and in violation of FIG rules,” the assertion mentioned.
Viner’s two-year suspension won’t begin until current measures excluding Russia and its ally Belarus from international gymnastics over the invasion of Ukraine are lifted, or else five years pass.
Viner, who was formerly married to billionaire businessman Alisher Usmanov, is head of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation and widely seen as a leading powerbroker in Russian sports. She raised the issue of the Olympic judging at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in 2021, Russian state news agencies reported at the time.
Responding to the decision to suspend Viner, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko accused the FIG of “discriminatory policy against Russia,” in comments to the Tass state news agency. Viner can appeal the ruling.
Viner’s coaching style came under scrutiny in a documentary, “Over The Limit,” which followed her and gymnast Margarita Mamun ahead of the 2016 Olympics, where Mamun won gold. The documentary showed Viner repeatedly criticizing Mamun in stark personal terms.
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