The Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak said he has no regrets after he was pictured wearing a pro-war "Z" symbol at a Sunday medal ceremony.

Kuliak, who earned bronze in the parallel bars final at the Apparatus World Cup in Doha, Qatar, displayed the symbol while standing on a podium with his Ukrainian rival.

The symbol has been seen painted on the side of Russian tanks and military vehicles deployed to invade Ukraine.

It has since been co-opted by civilians who support the invasion, seemingly including Kuliak, who was beaten in the event by Ukrainian athlete Illia Kovtun, who took gold.

After Kuliak's display, he was sharply criticized, including by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), which called for disciplinary proceedings following his "shocking behavior."
But in an interview with the state-sponsored media outlet Russia Today, Kuliak appeared to blame his Ukrainian opponents, whom he said "escalated" tensions at the competition.

"Their behavior at some points was completely unacceptable," Kuliak told RT.

"During performances they would shout 'Glory to Ukraine!', or go out on the podium wrapped in the national flag while we were considered neutral athletes, and because of this we felt uncomfortable."

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