KEY POINTS

  • Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak wore the letter "Z" on his leotard as he stood beside Ukraine's Illia Kovtun at the Apparatus World Cup
  • The letter was painted on Russian military vehicles during the invasion of Ukraine and worn by pro-war politicians in Russia
  • The International Gymnastics Federation will investigate Kuliak over the athlete's "shocking behavior"

A Russian gymnast, who lost to his Ukrainian counterpart at an event in Qatar, wore a symbol associated with Russia's invasion of Ukraine while receiving his medal Saturday.

Ivan Kuliak taped a letter "Z" onto his leotard's chest area after earning bronze in the parallel bars final at the Apparatus World Cup in Doha, the BBC reported.

He wore the symbol instead of Russia's banned flag as he took to the podium and stood next to Ukraine's Illia Kovtun and Kazakhstan's Milad Karimi, the gold and silver winners at the event, respectively, according to Skysports.

While the letter Z does not exist in the Russian alphabet, it has reportedly become symbolic with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where it was seen painted on the sides of tanks and other military vehicles.

The letter was also worn by pro-war politicians in Russia.

"Can’t think of a more disgusting thing to do," Ukrainian journalist Tadeusz Giczan said in response to Kuliak's gesture.

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has decided to launch an investigation into Kuliak after the incident.

"[We] will ask the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation to open disciplinary proceedings against Ivan Kuliak following his shocking behavior,” the organization said in a statement to The Guardian.

Athletes, officials and judges from Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to take part in the FIG competitions or FIG-sanctioned competitions starting Monday after the countries were sanctioned over their roles in the invasion of Ukraine.

Athletes from both nations were also banned from participating in the Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, China, following Russia's military assault on its western neighbor launched on Feb. 24 under the pretext of demilitarizing Ukraine.

The International Paralympic Committee, the Games' organizer, said the decision was made due to threats by several federations to boycott the event, mounting discontent in the athletes’ village and fears that a “deteriorating” situation there could lead to violence.

Russia initially signaled it would appeal the exclusion, but the country's Winter Paralympic Team later decided not to challenge the decision and opted to return home instead.

a-man-walks-past-the-symbol-z-painted
A man walks past the symbol "Z" painted on a bus stop in support of the Russian armed forces, in Saint Petersburg. Reuters / STAFF
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