Earlier this month, the International Gymnastics Federation joined a growing list of sporting bodies to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes ...

Earlier this month, the International Gymnastics Federation joined a growing list of sporting bodies to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from competition.

Marina Ulyankina, who coached Russian Olympic gymnasts Maria Paseka and Seda Tutkhaylan, opposed the ban that started on March 7th and will last until further notice, by posting a message to Morinari Watanabe, the FIG president, on VK.

"We need to remind Watanabe - of Hiroshima and Nagasaki," the Russian coach wrote on the Russian online social media and social networking service.

Watanabe is a Japanese businessman. He has been serving as president of the International Gymnastics Federation since January 2017.

He is the ninth president of the FIG and its first Asian president.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki are Japanese cities that were atomically bombed by the United States of America at the end of the second World War. It killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, most of whom were civilians.

Ukrainian former gymnast Lilia Podkopayeva, who won the all around gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games, posted a screenshot of a news article that quoted Ulyankina.

"While Russia is bombing women and children in Ukraine, Russian Gymnastics Coach is brining nuclear bomb threats to the Gymnastics Community. Highlighting again why Russian athletes should be banned from international tournaments and competitions," the Olympic champion wrote.

Svetlana Bogiunskaya, who competed for the Soviet and Belarussian team in the 80s and 90s and who immigrated to USA after her retirement, posted a reply to Lilia's post that reads "In all honesty i am speechless… Unbelievable and NOT in a good way. Unfortunately you can’t take your words back from social media …"

Last month, Podkopayeva called for the ban of Russian gymnasts from the FIG events following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"Why are you silent?! @figymnastics," the retired gymnast wrote in a lengthy Instagram post. "The whole world has stood up for defense of Ukraine! You see what Russia is doing with the Ukrainians on the Ukrainian territory!"

"RUSSIA is the AGRESSOR! Why don't you apply any sanctions against Russian athletes and Russian Gymnastics federation?!"

"There is a tournament in Germany where the gymnast from Belarus has won a gold medal. Spectators did not great the winner and did not show respect to the national anthem of the country that cooperates with Aggressors."

"Russian Federation has launched rockets in to Ukraine while Ukrainian negotiations team was on the way to Belarus to hold a peace talk with Russia. Ukrainian Gymnasts do not have the opportunity to continue our trainings, prepare and take part in tournaments and championships!"

"I call on all Gymnastics Federations in the world to deny Russian athletes access to tournaments. Ukrainian people fight for their country, our families who hide in bomb shelters since February 24! We demand sanctions from our Federation against the country of the aggressor! Please help us, help Ukraine to stop this war!"

Podkopayeva, who is now 43 years old, is one of the most successful Ukrainian gymnasts. She is the last gymnast to win all around titles at all three major international competitions, the Olympic Games, the World championships and the European championships.

Photo: @galyarudenko/Instagram