Melnikova, 25, signed with Chemnitz earlier this month, but her debut in the final Bundesliga contest of the season on November 15 in the south-western city of Esslingen was marred by controversy over her ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and her support for the war in Ukraine. This appears to be a violation of the neutrality rules of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
In his opening remarks at the Esslingen competition, the city’s mayor, Matthias Klopfer, urged Chemnitz to reconsider its decision to bring Melnikova. However, there were no protests against his participation.
When asked on Monday whether Melnikova would compete in the final in Heidelberg on November 29, Chemnitz coach Tatjana Bachmayer told DW, “No, she will not.”
Bachmeyer said she would comment further after the finals were over, adding that she wanted to focus on preparing her team for the competition. He described the past two weeks as “very intense.”
DW understands that the Chemnitz board took the final decision primarily for the safety of the club’s coaches.
Why has Melnikova been allowed to compete?
The FIG granted Melnikova neutral status in March, allowing her to compete internationally, even though the organization’s rules forbid “active support for the military conflict in Ukraine.” He is depicted with the Russian military “Z” symbol, which is clearly mentioned in the rules.
The Russian gymnast has refused to discuss her neutral position, responding with “no comment” in an interview with German broadcaster SWR in Esslingen.
However, on Tuesday he commented on TSV Tittmonning-Chemnitz’s decision to part ways with them.
Responding on Instagram, Melnikova blamed “public attention and political discussions” for the revocation of her invitation to compete, while expressing gratitude for the “support” she received in Germany.
“Everyone deserves equal opportunity in all areas of life and every athlete deserves to compete on a level playing field to pursue their dreams,” he wrote Tuesday. “I believe and hope that the situation will improve soon and every athlete will be able to do what they love without any hindrance.”
From 2023, the FIG has allowed Russian and Belarusian gymnasts to compete as “neutral” athletes. Three such athletes competed in the trampoline event at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
FIG would not explain its decision regarding Melnikova, saying it does not comment on individual cases. The Deutsche Turnliga, which oversees Germany’s gymnastics league, said it was following FIG’s rules.
Melnikova has enjoyed a triumphant return to international competition, winning two gold medals, including the all-around title, and a silver medal at October’s World Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia. That success was also noted by Putin, who congratulated them on a “triumphant performance”.
This article was originally published on November 24, 2025. It was updated with Melnikova’s response to the news on November 25, 2025.
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