In December of last year, FIG opened a disciplinary procedure against the Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee and 56 judges, following allegations of foul play observed during the intercontinental judges' course in Bucharest on November 19 to 24, the international judges' courses in Moscow on November 28 to December 2 and Alicante on December 5 to 9.

As well as noting the irregularities at a first investigation of the case, the FIG Disciplinary Commission concluded that the examination was not done anonymously, making it possible to recognise which exam belonged to whom.

"All these facts together leads the FIG Disciplinary Commission to think that there were significant risks to have had leaks during the process of the examination and/or its preparations and that there are several possible explanations for the suspicious scores," the Commission said.

Although the Disciplinary Commission agreed that the similar results at the courses are "suspicious", it was keen to point out that there is no proof of active corruption from the judges themselves.

As a result, it ruled that as long as there are not supplementary proofs it should give the benefit of doubt to the judges and dismiss proceedings - nolle prosequi - against them.

The Commission will now proceed with the investigations concerning all other parties involved and will ultimately have to take a decision concerning the validity of the exams.

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