Israeli gymnasts won't be competing at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta after Indonesia refused to issue them entry visas, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) turning down their appeals.
Defending world floor champion Artem Dolgopyat is among six athletes who'll miss the competition starting this Sunday.
The Israeli Gymnastics Federation (IGF) had asked CAS to force organisers to ensure their team could participate or relocate the championships entirely.
Indonesia, which doesn't have diplomatic relations with Israel and has the highest population of muslims in the world, said it wouldn't grant the visas because of Israel's military actions in Gaza.
Israeli gymnasts won't be competing at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta after Indonesia refused to issue them entry visas. Defending world floor champion Artem Dolgopyat is among six athletes who'll miss the competition starting this Sunday.
|REUTERS
The sport's highest court dismissed two separate requests from the Israeli federation on Tuesday.
In their main appeal, the IGF and the six gymnasts wanted CAS to compel the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to ensure Israeli participation or alternatively cancel the event running until October 25.
But CAS said the FIG argued it had "no prerogatives" over visa decisions, which fell "outside the competence" of the organisation.
Artem Dolgopyat (left) has Olympic gold and silver medals to his name along with a World Championship gold
|PA
The IGF called it a "denial of justice" that created discrimination against a member association.
A first appeal seeking to overturn an FIG statement acknowledging Indonesia's decision was thrown out for lacking jurisdiction.
The IGF said it was "deeply disappointed" by the court's decision, calling Indonesia's actions "outrageous" and a "blatant violation" of the rules.
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"It is inconceivable that a country can bar another nation from competing in a World Championship while the governing bodies stand by," the federation stated.
"This decision undermines the very foundations of sport and fair competition."
Dolgopyat took to his Instagram to express his disappointment over the decision: "I've been inundated with messages since the moment I learned that I won't be participating in the upcoming World Cup.
"I am shocked and very saddened by the decision, and especially that I will not be given the opportunity to represent my country with honor and defend my world title, a title that I won on 07/10, as one of the hardest days we have known as a nation.
"I and all the members of the team promise that we will continue to work hard every day, to put the israel flag as high as possible, and to continue to represent our country with dignity as well in the future.
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"I'm sad that the week that started so well for our country, with the return of the kidnapped, ended for us exactly like this.
"But we are a strong nation, that never gives up on who we are."
This isn't the first time Indonesia has blocked Israeli athletes from competing on its soil.
The country lost hosting rights for football's Under-20 World Cup in 2023 after Bali's governor refused to welcome the Israeli team.
Back in 1962, Indonesia denied visas to Israeli athletes for the Asian Games, which led to the country being banned from the 1964 Olympics.
Israel's military offensive in Gaza began after Hamas-led attacks killed 1,200 people on 7 October 2023. Israeli hostages were released on Monday as part of a ceasefire agreement.