Like OMG what of earth has been happening? No explanations as yet but hopefully someone somewhere gets to the bottom of this! Some people are even suggesting that no Irina means a lesser standard from Miss Bessonova and a medal that she seriously in my opinion deserves but may go begging =( very sadness.

Moutier (SUI) FIG Head Office, April 22, 2008. from here

Dear Presidents, dear members of the FIG authorities,

We regret to have to inform you about the following sanctions which had to be taken against Mrs. Irina Deriugina, member of the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee.

The Presidential Commission, following a proposal of the Disciplinary Commission and based on the FIG Statutes Art. 42.2 c), e), f), g), l) and q), has unanimously decided

• to suspend Ms Deriugina from her function as a member of the RG TC and any other official function within the FIG immediately and until the end of the current cycle (31.12.2008) and to suspend her from any future official function within the FIG until the end of the cycle 2013-2016;

• to exclude Ms Deriugina to participate in any activity of an FIG Committee or Commission with immediate effect and until the end of the cycle 2013-2016;

• to suspend (prevent) Ms Deriugina from participating in any official FIG event (Olympic Games and all other Multisport Games, World Championships, Continental Championships, World Cup Final, World Cup Series and all international competitions organised by the FIG affiliated member federations) as a member of a delegation, valid immediately and until the end of the cycle 2013-2016;

• to cancel (withdraw) Ms Deriugina's RG judge's brevet immediately and until the end of the cycle 2013-2016.

for various infringements listed in the FIG Code of Discipline, Art. 5, points 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 10.

It is understood that Mrs. Deriugina has the right to make an appeal against this decision to the FIG Appeal Tribunal within 21 days.

Kind regards,

Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique

Bruno Grandi, President

André F. Gueisbuhler, Secretary General

Now to see what IG says, oh and:

Owing to an editor's error, IG Online erroneously published the specific infractions the FIG stated Irina Deryugina committed.

CORRECTION: The FIG stated that Deryugina violated points 1, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10 of Article 5 of its Code of Discipline, which calls for sanctions if an individual:

1) Is in breach of the Statutes, Regulations, decisions, and directives written by the FIG;
4) Damages the image of gymnastics, the FIG, or its members through his behaviour, his words, or his deeds;
5) Adopts an unsportsmanlike behaviour,
7) Acts in such a way so as to influence the course or the result of the competitions in an improper way;
9) Behaves in an offensive way towards the FIG members, gymnasts, or FIG officials.
10) Seriously damages the dignity of a person or a group of persons, in any way whatsoever, in particular due to his colour, his race, a handicap, his sex, his religion or his ethnic origin