Israeli athletes remain excluded from participating in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, at least for the time being. The International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejects the claims mentioned in the appeal proceedings.
14.10.2025, 13:22
SDA
The dispute is based on the Indonesian authorities' decision to refuse entry to Israeli gymnasts. Israel's Gymnastics Federation (IGF) has therefore submitted a request to the CAS to "guarantee the participation of the Israeli team in the World Championships" or, if this request does not succeed, "to postpone or cancel these championships."
At the IGF, they are of the opinion that the FIG statutes oblige the organizers to make a decision in the event of a refusal of entry. This lack of a decision constitutes a denial of rights and therefore leads to discrimination against a member association.
According to the CAS statement, those responsible at the FIG in turn emphasized that the International Gymnastics Federation has no authority to issue entry visas for Indonesia and that the decision by the authorities in Jakarta is outside its jurisdiction. Last Thursday, Indonesia's Minister of Law and Human Rights referred to "the firmly established policy of no contact with Israel as long as the country denies the existence of a free and sovereign Palestine".
Despite the rejection of the applications, Israel's athletes, including Artem Dolgopyat, world champion 2023 and Olympic champion on the ground, can hope to participate; the decision is not yet final. The CAS will continue to deal with the case. However, time is pressing. The competitions in Indonesia's capital begin on Sunday.
