Russian Olympic gold medallist Evgeny Rylov has been suspended from swimming’s world governing body FINA for nine months after attending a rally in support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Rylov was among several athletes seen wearing the letter “Z” on his outfit as he attended the rally at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium last month hosted by President Vladimir Putin.
The rally saw Mr Putin tell the cheering thousands “we will implement all our plans” and insist the “main purpose” of the invasion of Ukraine was to “save people from suffering and genocide”.
FINA has said the suspension came “following Rylov’s attendance and conduct at an event held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow”.