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Russia has withdrawn from the rhythmic gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Romania on Friday after accusing the organisers of banning its flag and national anthem.
“The Russian rhythmic gymnastics team has decided to withdraw from the Challenge Cup, which is taking place from June 26 to 28 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. This decision is due to serious violations of competition regulations by the organisers,” Russia’s team said in a statement.
On Wednesday, the mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Emil Boc, announced in a Facebook video that Russia would not be allowed to use their flag and anthem at the event.
“I do not agree that the political symbols of an aggressor state in Europe should be used in a country of the European Union,” Bloc said.
Russia said the restrictions “directly” contravened the decision of the sport’s governing body to readmit them in May, after a four-year ban over the war in Ukraine, and that they were considering legal action to compel compliance with the ruling.
World Gymnastics, the sport’s ruling body, is yet to make an immediate comment, and it was not immediately clear whether organisers had complied with his request.
Russia are a rhythmic gymnastics powerhouse, having won Olympic gold in the sport every year between 2000 and 2016. Rhythmic gymnastics combines ballet and acrobatics, often using apparatus such as a ribbon, hoop and ball.
