MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS on Friday that the ruling of the 2026 Challenge Cup in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, to ban gymnasts from Russia from performing under the national flag was outrageous and arbitrary.
"This is an outrageous case," Peskov said at news briefing. "Our federation's relations with the global federation are fully reinstated and our gymnasts have the right to perform under the national flag and to the tune of the anthem of Russia," he noted.
"We are talking here about an absolutely arbitrary decision made by the municipal authorities of this city," Peskov added.
The Russian Gymnastics Federation (RGF) announced earlier in the day its decision to withdraw from the 2026 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca due to serious breaches of competition rules by the organizers.
TASS reported earlier that Cluj-Napoca Mayor Emil Boc opposed returning Russian athletes the right to compete under the national flag and anthem and stated his intention to prevent Russia’s national symbols to be displayed at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Challenge Cup in his city.
