[2] Starting March 7, the FIG banned Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from taking part in FIG-sanctioned competitions.
[3] [4] On February 24, the first day of competition at the Cottbus World Cup, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
During the medal ceremony for the parallel bars Russian gymnast and bronze medalist Ivan Kuliak wore a Z on his chest – a military symbol and a sign of support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine – despite sharing a podium with gold medalist Illia Kovtun, a Ukrainian athlete, and Kazakh gymnast and silver medalist Milad Karimi who lives and trains in Ukraine.
[6] The FIG announced that it will ask the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation to open disciplinary proceedings against Kuliak.
[7] The day before the incident the FIG announced that starting March 7 Russian and Belarusian athletes would be banned from participating in FIG-sanctioned competitions.