Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.6
By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:
The success of Azerbaijani gymnasts and the country's Gymnastics Federation in recent years gives no peace to many. Azerbaijani athletes have repeatedly faced biased refereeing. Another biased decision was made by the Disciplinary Commission of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) which has excluded Azerbaijani judge in rhythmic gymnastics Natalya Bulanova for six months before the start of the World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.
According to the information posted on the official website of the International Gymnastics Federation Sept.4, 2015, the Disciplinary Commission of this organization has imposed sanctions on Azerbaijani judge in rhythmic gymnastics Natalya Bulanova. Under these sanctions, Bulanova can't take part in international competitions in the next six months.
In an interview with Trend Agency, Natalya Bulanova gave more detailed information and expressed her opinion on the issue.
Bulanova is currently in Stuttgart, Germany where the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships will start Sept.7.
Q.: Natalya Bulanova, you are currently in Stuttgart, while according to the information from the International Gymnastics Federation, you have no right to be there.
A.: Yes you are right. I am here as a tourist and can only watch the competitions from the spectator stands. I was informed about this decision a day before the official arrival day of the delegations to Stuttgart. I came to Stuttgart, since all the organizational issues related to my arrival were resolved long before this, and it was too late to change anything.
Q.: Don't you think it is strange that this decision was made several days before the start of the competitions, literally, a day before the official arrival?
A: It is more than strange to receive information about the opening of the disciplinary proceedings against me and the judges representing other four countries a month before the competitions and about accusation of biased refereeing during the 2014 World Championships that was held a year ago.
Q.: What do you feel in this situation?
A.: I think that the decision made against me is absolutely unfair. The judge, who has been accused of bias for the first time and has made one assumed mistake in refereeing in 12 years, can't be excluded from refereeing or from participation in all international competitions within six months neither as a coach nor as an official.
I believe that everyone will agree with me, since I saw such an attitude against myself only. Three other judges received a warning and one of them was excluded from participation in competitions for three months, while according to the documents provided for notifying about the opening of the disciplinary proceedings, the charges made against some of them are more serious than those against me, since I am accused only of one case of biased refereeing.
I as a person aware of everything taking place around me for many years, understand many things and I am able to explain this. But I am not going to do this now. Everything has its own place and time.
Q.: What are your plans regarding this decision?
A.: In this unfair situation, I will certainly file an appeal to the FIG Appeals Tribunal against this decision and will hope that my appeal will be accepted for consideration and a fair decision will be made by the appeals instance this time.