The Russian gymnast who taunted a Ukrainian rival with a pro-war symbol at an official event is set to be slapped with a lengthy ban.
Ivan Kuliak's actions at the World Cup event in Doha, Qatar, have been condemned by the gymnastics governing body, who labelled his stunt as "shocking behaviour".
Kuliak won bronze in the parallel bars, and took to the podium to receive his prize alongside silver medallist Milad Karimi of Kazakhstan and event winner Illia Kovtun, of Ukraine.
The Russian was stood to the left of his Ukrainian rival on the podium, and was wearing a neutral uniform after being prevented from wearing his country's colours due to a ban.
But he was clearly keen to make a statement in support of his country's invasion of Ukraine, as he had taped a 'z' onto his chest.
The 'z' symbol was most obviously used when it was spray painted onto Russian tanks and other armoured vehicles which rolled across the border and into Ukrainian territory after Vladimir Putin gave the invasion order.
It has also been worn by politicians and influencers who support the invasion, and generally adopted as a pro-war symbol.
His brazen act sparked fury among fans on social media, while Kovtun also appeared to be unimpressed as he wore a steely expression throughout the medal ceremony and did not once acknowledge his Russian rival.
Kuliak is also set to be handed a hefty punishment by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), which has condemned his actions.
"The International Gymnastics Federation confirms that it will ask the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation to open disciplinary proceedings against male artistic gymnast Ivan Kuliak (RUS) following his shocking behaviour at the Apparatus World Cup," it wrote in a statement.
The FIG also reiterated an earlier announcement that all Russian and Belarusian athletes would be banned from competitions until further notice, due to the invasion.
No punishment has yet been announced, but under FIG guidelines Kuliak could be in line for a lengthy ban and may even be stripped of the medal he won at the event in Doha.
