Russian federation reports visa refusals for three gymnasts before world championships

The Russian Gymnastics Federation said on October 13 that Angelina Melnikova, Viktoria Listunova and Anna Kalmykova had been refused visas for the world championships in Rotterdam. Its announcement updates earlier reports that their applications were still pending.

The federation said the Dutch embassy in Moscow notified the visa centre of the refusals. The championships run from October 17 to 25. According to the federation, the decisions prevent the three gymnasts from taking part.

Five other applicants were still awaiting decisions: Lyudmila Roshchina, Milana Kayumova, Ilya Zaika, Saveliy Syedin and Muhammadzhon Yakubov.

TASS had reported that Daniel Marinov, Arseniy Dukhno, Sergey Naidin and Alyona Glotova received visas. Their approvals do not establish that the entire Russian team will be able to attend.

The federation said it intended to ask the International Olympic Committee and World Gymnastics to assess the situation and its effect on equal conditions for Olympic qualification. The announcement describes a planned appeal, rather than a decision by either organisation.