German Gymnastics Federation President Alfons Hölzl believes that the international ban on gymnasts from Russia and Belarus should be continued ©DTB

German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) President Alfons Hölzl has called for the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to retain their ban on competitors from Russia and Belarus when the FIG Executive Committee meets in Lausanne tomorrow. 

According to International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidelines, Russian and Belarus competitors may only take part as neutrals.

It is stipulated that "athletes who actively support the war cannot compete," and any association with the military or security forces in either country is also forbidden.

"My committee and I have no idea how this would look in practice," Hölzl told the German Press Agency. 

"How should an athlete who comes from Russia be classified as neutral?" 

FIG President Morinari Watanabe is expected to discuss the ban on Russian and Belarus gymnasts at the FIG Executive Committee meeting in Lausanne this week ©Getty Images
FIG President Morinari Watanabe is expected to discuss the ban on Russian and Belarus gymnasts at the FIG Executive Committee meeting in Lausanne this week ©Getty Images 

In May, the FIG decided to postpone a decision on any re-admission until this week, which could determine their participation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

In March 2022, shortly after the invasion began, Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak was banned after displaying a 'Z' symbol, widely believed to be a sign of support for the war, during an FIG World Cup event in Doha.

A ban preventing Russian and Belarus gymnasts from competing in international gymnastics events was later imposed.

In November 2022, Estonia, Italy, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Ukraine boycotted the FIG Congress in Istanbul in protest at the presence of delegates from Russia and Belarus.

In March this year, 2018 world all-around champion Artur Dalaloyan, a team gold medallist at the Tokyo Games, refused to cut his ties to the Dynamo Club which is associated with the Russian military.

Artur Dalaloyan, all-around world champion in 2018 and team gold medallist at Tokyo 2020 has refused to sever his ties with the Dynamo Club in Moscow which has military associations ©Getty Images
Artur Dalaloyan, all-around world champion in 2018 and team gold medallist at Tokyo 2020 has refused to sever his ties with the Dynamo Club in Moscow which has military associations ©Getty Images

Hölzl has also cast doubts on doping controls in place in Russian sport.

At the Tokyo Olympics, all Russian competitors had required to compete under the Russian Olympic Committee banner after the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) was sanctioned following revelations of state sponsored doping.

RUSADA was ruled non compliant by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

"I can't see that we are dealing with a system that ensures the fight against doping, then it leads to an athlete being favoured and everyone else being disadvantaged," Hölzl added.

"As long as these two issues are not satisfactorily resolved, there can be no participation of Belarusian or Russian athletes in international competitions and subsequently in the Olympic Games."

The FIG Executive Committee meeting is scheduled to start on July 19 and is expected to last two days.