Russian gymnast with ‘Z’ symbol on podium next to Ukrainian faces long ban

• Gymnastics' governing body condemns Ivan Kuliak's conduct
• Letter seen to symbolise support for the invasion of Ukraine

Gymnastics' governing body has condemned the shocking behaviour" of the Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak, who now faces a lengthy ban for wearing a symbol in support of the invasion of Ukraine on the medal podium of a World Cup event.

After winning bronze in the parallel bars final at the Apparatus World Cup in Doha, Kuliak taped the letter Z" to the front of his outfit before standing next to the gold medallist, Illia Kovtun of Ukraine, for the national anthems.