Judge banned for helping compatriot reach Olympics

A Cypriot rhythmic gymnastics judge has received a four-year ban for tampering with scores to help her country’s Olympic bidder.

Vera Tugolukova won the final European qualifying spot for the Olympics after Judge Evangelia Trikomiti’s alteration of the scores at the European Championships, according to the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG).

Russia-born Tugolukova, who began competing for Cyprus at the end of 2022, finished 16th in the individual all-around competition in Paris.

“Trikomiti is declared ineligible for a period of four years of all gymnastics-related activities, excluding coaching activities, starting on the date of notification of this decision”, FIG’s gymnastics ethics foundation said in a statement.

The FIG further stated that because it was not a “field of play,” it was necessary to pay European Gymnastics 8, 000 euros (£6, 670) for the reimbursement of investigative costs.

Trikomiti, the president of the superior jury at the Budapest European Championships in May 2024, was found to have “undue interfered” with the judges’ efforts to prevent Tugolukova from placing ahead of Poland’s Liliana Lewinska in the Olympic selection process.

She was previously a judge at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Trikomiti’s representative told Reuters that the initial disciplinary proceedings against her were flawed. They relied on concocted evidence and were based on a partial and complete investigation.

” Mrs Trikomiti has been a judge for many years without any complaint, let alone sanction.

She has worked extremely hard to ensure that all competitions are conducted impartially, independently, and without bias, and she fully intends to do so once her appeal is heard.

Trikomiti’s daughter, Chrystalleni, represented Cyprus at the 2012 London Olympics and won two gold medals in rhythmic gymnastics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Before weighing appeals, European Gymnastics said it would consult with attorneys.

The Cyprus Gymnastics Federation said it would “thoroughly review” the ruling.