Israeli Gymnasts Barred from Indonesia World Championships After Court Rejects Appeal

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The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected an appeal by the Israeli Gymnastics Federation (IGF), confirming that Israeli athletes will remain barred from participating in this month’s World Gymnastics Championships in Indonesia.

The ruling, issued on Tuesday in Lausanne, effectively ends Israel’s hopes of competing in the global event after Indonesian authorities declined to issue entry visas for its gymnasts. The decision followed a plea from the IGF, which had requested the court to compel organizers to either ensure the participation of its athletes or cancel the competition entirely.

IGF Claims “Discrimination”

In its appeal, the Israeli federation argued that Indonesia’s refusal to grant visas amounted to “a situation of discrimination,” violating the spirit of sports neutrality. The IGF had sought “urgent provisional measures” to guarantee its gymnasts’ participation, saying the exclusion undermined fair competition and international sports standards.

However, the CAS dismissed both requests. In its official statement, the court said the appeals “had been considered by the deputy president of the CAS Appeals Arbitration Division” and “both requests have been rejected.”

FIG Maintains Limited Authority

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) responded to the development, stating that it had no authority to intervene in national visa decisions. FIG reiterated that the issue “falls entirely under the jurisdiction of the host nation,” emphasizing that its role was limited to overseeing the technical and organizational aspects of the championship.

With the ruling finalized, the World Gymnastics Championships will proceed as planned in Indonesia from October 19 to 25, drawing more than 500 athletes from 79 countries.

Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, has no formal diplomatic relations with Israel. While organizers have expressed regret over the visa issue, they confirmed that preparations for the event are continuing without change.

The CAS decision is final, bringing closure to Israel’s participation dispute while underscoring the challenges of balancing global sports inclusivity with national policy considerations.