The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) is facing mounting pressure as controversy erupts over Russian gymnasts being granted neutral status for competition. Since January 1, 2024, Russian athletes have been eligible to compete under FIG as neutrals, with RGF Vice President Vasily Titov confirming in early January that applications were “in process.” However, FIG has remained silent, leaving fans in the dark about who has been approved—until now.

On March 5, a leaked list revealed that 26 Russian gymnasts, coaches, and support staff had reportedly been granted neutral status in artistic gymnastics, though FIG has yet to confirm this. Among those approved are notable names like Angelina Melnikova, Maria Agafonova, and Daniel Marinov. However, four individuals—Viktoria Listunova, Ekaterina Privalova, Elena Redyanova, and Aleksei Usachov—were denied. Russian sources claim they originally submitted 100 names, yet only a handful have been approved so far.

The approved women’s artistic gymnasts (WAG) include Maria Agafonova, Zlata Osokina, Alyona Glotova, Anna Kalmykova, Angelina Melnikova, Lyudmila Roshchina, and Ksenia Zelyaeva, while the men’s artistic gymnasts (MAG) include Kirill Prokopyev, Vladislav Polyushov, Daniel Marinov, and Ilya Zaika. Several Russian coaches and support staff were also approved, including Sergey Andrianov, Anton Pluzhikov, Igor Kalabushkin, and Anna Kulikova. Meanwhile, Listunova’s rejection has raised eyebrows, as she has no known military ties, unlike some of the approved athletes.

What’s fueling the outrage is that multiple approved gymnasts are affiliated with Russian military sports clubs like CSKA and Dynamo, which should disqualify them under FIG’s own Ad Hoc rules. The inclusion of Melnikova, a CSKA gymnast, has been especially controversial, while Listunova—who was not part of a military club—was denied. Fans are questioning how FIG determined who met the neutrality criteria, especially since some approved gymnasts, like Marinov and Melnikova, were named by Ukraine as athletes who had previously expressed support for the war.

Social media has exploded with criticism, with many accusing FIG of lacking transparency and bending its own rules. There is growing speculation that the Russian Gymnastics Federation is trying to force FIG into publicly confirming the list. Frustrated fans have flooded Twitter with demands for answers, and the backlash is only growing.

FIG faces backlash for silence on gymnastics eligibility

Fans aren’t holding back, and FIG is right in the middle of the firestorm. One fan summed it up: “Both Marinov and Melnikova were on Ukraine’s list of athletes who supported the war but were approved.” Another added, “Disappointed but not surprised.” The outrage is real, and it all comes down to one big question—how did these athletes get approved when FIG’s own rules should’ve disqualified them?

Take Angelina Melnikova, for example. She’s not just any gymnast—she’s contracted by the Russian Armed Forces and competes for CSKA, the Central Sports Club of the Army. FIG’s own guidelines say athletes tied to the military can’t qualify as neutral, yet here she is, on the approved list.

Daniel Marinov also stands among the gymnasts approved by FIG to participate in events, yet he openly defends Russia’s armed conflict against Ukraine. The statements of Daniel Marinov about Russia’s military aggression pose questions regarding FIG’s standards for athletic neutrality. The current situation demonstrates major problems regarding permission standards and rule implementation. FIG should resolve this issue as quickly as possible. The fans will not overlook a “neutral” designation when FIG fails to enforce it through appropriate action.

One fan summed up the frustration perfectly: “FIG is just rolling the dice on who gets to have a career again.” Others aren’t even sure what to believe, with comments like, “I don’t know how trustworthy this is, but it seems like it,” and, “I just don’t know how reliable this is.” That’s exactly the problem—without FIG speaking up, speculation is running wild, and no one knows what’s official.

The FIG exerts control over athlete eligibility because it acts as the global governing body of gymnastics which determines participation criteria for World Championship qualifiers alongside Olympic qualification processes. Since FIG established the “neutral athlete” program they ought to maintain a consistent and fair enforcement approach. The unverified leaked list remains unknown since FIG has yet to validate which athletes secured approval status. Consequently, all information about this matter remains based on speculation. Fans remain in wait while FIG fails to give any updates, making the situation progressively worse.

The growing pressure from fans for an explanation has forced FIG to delay its silence any longer. Which factors did FIG use to establish their approval decisions? What factors led to athletes being cleared by FIG although their rule violations were obvious? The gymnastics community will persist in doubting FIG’s authority until they clarify these matters while simultaneously undermining sports authenticity.