CAS rejects Israel appeal in bid to compete at gymnastics worlds
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Tuesday it has rejected two appeals by the Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) for provisional measures in their effort to compete at the upcoming artistic world championships in Indonesia.
The IGF went to CAS against the world governing body FIG after Indonesia's government said last week it would not issue visas to Israeli gymnasts qualified for the seven-day worlds in Jakarta which start on Sunday.
In the first appeal, the IGF wanted a FIG satetement nullified in which it said it had "taken note" of the government decision. But the CAS said the appeal was fully turned down due to lack of jurisdiction.
The second appeal, from the IGF and six qualified athletes led by floor exercise world and Olympic champion Artem Dolgopyat, was to make CAS order FIG to either guarantee Israel's participation, or alternatively cancel or move the worlds.
While provisional measures were dismissed, the CAS said that this appeal was still ongoing.
Israel said that according to FIG statutes a decision from its executive committee was needed if not all participating teams are given visas. It said that no such decision constituted a denial of justice and discrimination against a FIG member.
The FIG argued that visa issues are entirely outside of their competence.
Indonesia is the world's most populous nation with a Muslim majority and has backed Palestinians for a long time. Minister of Justice Yusril Ihza Mahendra said that the Gaza war ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will not change the visa denial.