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The World Gymnastics Championships remain the first Olympic qualifying event for the 2028 Los Angeles Games despite visa problems involving Russian participants. The executive board considered removing that status at an additional meeting but voted not to do so, according to secretary-general Nicolas Buompane.
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The Netherlands denied visa applications from Russian gymnasts Angelina Melnikova, Viktoria Listoenova and Anna Kalmykova for the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam. The Russian federation said it had been told that one or more Schengen states regarded the athletes as a threat to their international relations. Dutch authorities said visa decisions are assessed under the EU Visa Code and are unrelated to sporting performance. Four Russian gymnasts had arrived in Rotterdam, while three others — Lyudmila Roshchina, Milana Kayumova and Muhammadjon Yakubov — were still awaiting decisions on the eve of the championships. Earlier reports said five athletes were awaiting decisions, including Ilya Zaika and Savely Sedin.