Originally Syndicated on May 10, 2023 @ 8:26 am
Viner cannot coach or play. The two-year ban begins one day after the federation lifts its sanctions against the Russian team.
Irina Viner’s Downfall
The International Gymnastics Federation has barred Russian national team head coach Irina Viner from competing. Viner cannot coach, head a delegation, or otherwise compete. The gymnast’s scandalous statements after the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, when Russian Dina Averina lost gold to Israeli Lina Ashram in the individual all-around by 0.150 points, prompted the restrictions. Coaches called the judges’ decision “flagrant” and “ugly.”
Irina Viner’s two-year ban from international competition will begin one day after the Gymnastics Federation lifts its sanctions against the Russian team. Yolanda Chen says: “This happens frequently at the Olympics and other sports competitions.
Figure skating and other subjective sports with judges have many scandalous statements and scandals. It seems the IOC and all federations are used to this, which is fine. Yes, understanding helps solve the problem. But to impose sanctions, first and foremost, a year after it happened, against people who have invested so much effort and knowledge in international rhythmic gymnastics is unacceptable. Irina Alexandrovna drives international rhythmic gymnastics.
Yes, Bulgaria, Spain, and Ukraine have great teams, schools, coaches, specialists, and leaders, but Irina Aleksandrovna Viner is synonymous with rhythmic gymnastics worldwide, and I think other federations recognize this.
Irina Alexandrovna is persistent and lively, so she will survive. If we get into the Olympics, she will lead and glorify our rhythmic gymnastics and help the girls prepare. Irina Aleksandrovna will do this here in our country, but she has excellently trained personnel who will work with our athletes and their leaders.
But Irina Alexandrovna Viner is still associated with rhythmic gymnastics worldwide, and I think other federations recognize this.
The Tokyo Olympics technical committee head, Natalya Kuzmina, filed a complaint against Wiener. Wiener linked Russian results to her refereeing. Russia withdrew Kuzmina’s committee head re-election bid in 2021. The International Federation retained Kuzmina’s candidacy.
