The FIG Executive Committee member appeared to reference the scandal in the United States, where former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was found to have sexually abused hundreds of athletes under the guise of medical treatment.

In an interview with Belarusian publication Nasha Nina, the London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist in the rhythmic all-around competition cast doubt on some of the victims and expressed scepticism about the amount of cases in sport.

"I admit it's possible to believe that yes, there are such cases in the sports, but not the amount of specifically the sports cases that have been thrown at us…as an opportunity to earn money on that or [get revenge] for the old insults, to shame the names of the coaches or someone else," said Charkashyna.

"Because, well, this is America, they know how to make money, you need to understand this."

Charkashyna's comments come despite the FIG Athletes' Commission pledging support for the Ethics Foundation, set-up in the wake of the Nassar scandal, at a recent meeting between the two bodies.

In a statement, the FIG said the meeting focused on how the athletes body can "become a key partner" of the foundation and "help this body fulfil its mission of safeguarding the sport’s practitioners from harassment and abuse".

Hundreds of survivors of Nassar, sentenced to 175 years in jail in January 2018 after being found guilty of sexually abusing dozens of American gymnasts, including Olympic and world champions, have filed lawsuits against the organisations and individuals who enabled his abuse.

These include against USA Gymnastics, which has failed to adequately respond to the crisis stemming from the Nassar scandal, it is claimed.

Last year, Michigan State University agreed to pay $500 million (£378 million/€441 million) to victims of their former doctor.

Out of the settlement, announced in May, $425 million (£323 million/€375 million) will be paid to current claimants.

The remainder will be set aside in a trust fund for any future victims of Nassar who come forward.

Survivors of Nassar's abuse have also criticised USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee, which began a process to decertify the organisation as the national governing body for the sport last year.

insidethegames has contacted the FIG for comment.