Coach who criticised Olympic judges banned

1 year ago 76

A apical Russian gymnastics manager whose athletes won galore Olympic golden medals has been suspended pursuing vehement disapproval of judges who ended Russia's winning streak successful rhythmic gymnastics astatine the Tokyo Olympics.

The Gymnastics Ethics Foundation, which handles planetary disciplinary cases, barred Irina Viner from coaching oregon officiating astatine immoderate competitions successful planetary gymnastics for 2 years, successful a determination published precocious Monday.

That followed an probe into statements made aft Russian gymnasts took the metallic medal successful the idiosyncratic and squad all-around rhythmic competitions successful Tokyo successful 2021. Those were astonishment defeats which ended a streak of golden medals for Russia going backmost to 2000 successful some events.

In comments to Russian media, Viner suggested the judges were motivated by anti-Russian prejudice and called the concern a “disgrace.” Viner besides allegedly retaliated against an International Gymnastics Federation authoritative from Russia who oversaw the judging astatine the Olympics by blocking her from moving for re-election, and allegedly failed to cooperate with the inquiry.

A summary of the ruling connected the FIG website didn't specify precisely which of the accusations were upheld but said Viner was recovered “liable for breach of the FIG rules." Her comments aft the Olympics were "deemed abusive and successful usurpation of FIG rules,” the connection said.

Viner's two-year suspension won't statesman until existent measures excluding Russia and its state Belarus from planetary gymnastics implicit the penetration of Ukraine are lifted, oregon other 5 years pass.

Viner, who was formerly joined to billionaire businessman Alisher Usmanov, is caput of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation and wide seen arsenic a starring powerbroker successful Russian sports. She raised the contented of the Olympic judging astatine a gathering with President Vladimir Putin successful 2021, Russian authorities quality agencies reported astatine the time.

Responding to the determination to suspend Viner, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko accused the FIG of “discriminatory argumentation against Russia,” successful comments to the Tass authorities quality agency.

Russian agencies reported that Viner, who tin entreaty the ruling, was presented with a missive of gratitude from Putin astatine an awards ceremonial for women successful sports successful Moscow connected Tuesday. She thanked her supporters and said, “We volition support working,” Tass reported.

Viner’s coaching benignant came nether scrutiny successful a documentary, “Over The Limit,” which followed her and gymnast Margarita Mamun up of the 2016 Olympics, wherever Mamun won gold. The documentary showed Viner repeatedly criticizing Mamun successful stark idiosyncratic terms.

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