Israeli gymnasts, including reigning world floor champion Artem Dolgopyat, will miss the upcoming World Artistic Gymnastics Championships after Indonesia refused to issue visas to the delegation.
The Indonesian government cited the country’s ongoing military operations in Gaza as the reason for denying entry, effectively preventing the athletes from competing in the championships, scheduled to run from Sunday to 25 October, according to BBC Sport.
The Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) sought urgent provisional measures from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to secure participation or relocate the event, but CAS rejected the requests.
“While a first appeal was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, a hearing for a second appeal will not take place before the World Championships begin,” BBC Sport reported.
The IGF said the decision represents a “denial of justice” and creates a “situation of discrimination against a member association.” CAS noted that the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) argued it has no authority over visa issuance, which falls under the host nation’s competence.
In a statement, the IGF condemned Indonesia’s actions as a “blatant violation” of competition rules, warning that the decision undermines the principles of sport and fair play.
Dolgopyat expressed disappointment on Instagram, stating, “We are so disappointed for the gymnasts, male and female, and professional teams… We continue the fight, hoping to achieve justice, but unfortunately, we will no longer be able to compete in these World Championships.”
Six Israeli gymnasts, including Dolgopyat, Eyal Indig, Ron Pyatov, Lihie Raz, Yali Shoshani, and Roni Shamay, were directly affected by the visa denial. Dolgopyat, 28, won Olympic floor gold at Tokyo 2020, silver in Paris last year, and is a two-time European champion.
The situation unfolds amid regional tensions, with a ceasefire agreement recently facilitating the return of 20 Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian detainees to their families.
The IGF has indicated it will continue to challenge the decision, stressing that fair participation in global competitions must be guaranteed regardless of political disputes.
