No ban needed: Russian athletes get shut out by suspiciously convenient delays

April 28, 2026

TL;DR

Russian junior rhythmic gymnasts are unable to participate in the 2026 European Cup due to administrative hurdles.
The exclusion is attributed to prolonged procedures for obtaining neutral status and subsequent refusal of registration by European Gymnastics.
Despite submitting documents early and making repeated requests for expedited processing, approvals were fragmented and too late for the competition's draw and registration deadlines.
A potential workaround involving 'pending' status was not communicated to the Russian federation in time.
The situation appears to contradict the IOC's December 2025 statement supporting the inclusion of young athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports.
Exclusion was achieved through delays, missed deadlines, and uncoordinated procedures, rather than a formal ban.
The closure of World Gymnastics' office over Easter likely contributed to delays.
The athletes' months of preparation were nullified by mismatched organizational timelines and a lack of transparency.

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