The Swiss court yesterday upheld the Russian's appeal, along with those of five other Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee members, lifting the suspensions - originally until December 2014 - placed on those implicated by the FIG Disciplinary Committee in July 2013.

"My colleagues and I welcome the decision of the CAS, which confirmed that the accusations by International Federation of Gymnastics were false and unsubstantiated," Kuzmina told insidethegames.

"The CAS decision annulled FIG's decision and found the current members of the Technical Committee not guilty.

"To remind, at the end of 2012 FIG accused the Technical Committee and 52 judges.

"Then, in May and August last year, charges against the judges were rightly removed.

"Nevertheless, for reasons which are not clear to me, FIG continued to pursue the members of the Technical Committee escalating it to CAS, an independent institution for sport arbitration."

Kuzmina added that she still could not understand what she called the "aggressive attitude and witch-hunting approach" of the FIG, and singled out the body's President, Bruno Grandi, and secretary general, Andre Gueisbuhler.

Natalia Kuzmina claimed she could not understand the approach taken by the FIG and its President Bruno Grandi in the saga ©Bongarts/Getty Images


"Instead of working together for the benefit of the FIG and rhythmic gymnastics they opted to run a prejudicial campaign against the spirit of the sport," she added.

"I still feel the bitter taste, but I will continue my work for the Federation and am ready for professional, correctly structured collaboration, as this is the only right way to develop sport.

"It is important for all of us to leave this behind and continue development and promotion of the rhythmic gymnastics and the Olympic movement in whole."

The CAS ruling seems to bring to an end the long-running scandal that has rocked the discipline for the last year.

"The FIG has taken note of the CAS's decision," the sport's world governing body said in a statement.

It did say, however, that the disciplinary decisions concerning the cancellation of brevets awarded at the course and the sanctions against former Technical Committee President Maria Szyszkowska, who was stripped of her FIG membership, will be maintained.

It added that it will maintain more than ever its degree of vigilance against those who would be tempted to break the rules and betray the spirit of sport, with FIG President Grandi insisting that "sport without rules and justice is not worthy of being called a sport".

"I know we can count on the integrity of our judges to respect our athletes," he added.

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