Defending world floor champion Artem Dolgopyat and other Israeli gymnasts will miss next week’s World Artistic Gymnastics Championships after Indonesia refused to grant them visas, citing the ongoing military offensive in Gaza.

Published: 14 October 2025

Israeli gymnasts, including Olympic floor medallist Artem Dolgopyat, will be unable to compete at the 2025 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships after host nation Indonesia denied visas to the Israeli team. The decision comes amid heightened tensions following Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Court of Arbitration for Sport Rejects Israel’s Appeal

The Israel Gymnastics Federation (IGF) sought urgent provisional measures from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to allow its athletes to participate. However, CAS rejected the requests, leaving Israeli gymnasts unable to compete.

A first appeal was dismissed due to “lack of jurisdiction,” and BBC Sport reports that a second appeal hearing will not take place before the championships commence on Sunday. The IGF had requested CAS to compel the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) either to guarantee Israeli participation or relocate/cancel the event, which runs until 25 October.

CAS confirmed that the FIG has “no prerogatives” in issuing entry visas and that Indonesia’s refusal falls outside the organization’s authority.

IGF Expresses Deep Disappointment

The IGF criticized the decision as discriminatory:

“It is inconceivable that a country can bar another nation from competing in a World Championship while the governing bodies stand by. This decision undermines the very foundations of sport and fair competition.”

Dolgopyat, 28, expressed his frustration on social media, stating:

“We are so disappointed for the gymnasts, male and female, and professional teams, but not only that, we are deeply concerned by the recent decisions that could negatively impact the future of all our delegations and the future of sport in general.”

Israel’s Gymnastics Stars Affected

The affected athletes include Artem Dolgopyat, Eyal Indig, Ron Pyatov, Lihie Raz, Yali Shoshani, and Roni Shamay. Dolgopyat is a two-time Olympic medallist, having won floor gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and silver in Paris 2024, and is also a two-time European champion.

Historical Context

Indonesia has a history of denying entry to Israeli athletes. In 2023, it was stripped of its right to host football’s Under-20 World Cup after refusing to host the Israeli team. The country, the most populous Muslim nation in the world, has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel and was banned from the 1964 Olympics for similar reasons.

Broader Political Context

The visa denial comes against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, which began on 7 October 2023 following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with over 67,000 people killed in Gaza and widespread destruction of residential buildings, according to the UN and other international bodies.

International attention on Israel’s actions has grown, with calls from politicians such as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to exclude Israel from international sports competitions.

Impact on Gymnastics and International Sport

The exclusion of Israeli athletes from the World Championships highlights the intersection of politics and sports. The decision has sparked debate about fairness, governance, and the role of international sporting organizations in addressing geopolitical conflicts.