Nicosia, Cyprus. Cypriot rhythmic gymnastics judge Evangelia Trikomiti has been barred from any gymnastics-related activity for four years after the Court of Arbitration for Sport found her guilty of manipulating scores at the 2024 European Championships. CAS rejected an appeal against the ban filed by Trikomiti and the European Gymnastics Federation.
CAS ruling and reactions
“The decision is unfortunately an extremely unpleasant development for Cypriot sport and tarnishes the otherwise successful Cypriot presence at the recent Olympic games,” Achilleas Emilianides, dean at the University of Nicosia’s school of law, wrote in a post on social media.
Emilianides said the score manipulation took place during the process of selecting a European representative for Olympic participation, in which a Cypriot gymnast was selected.
Details of the score manipulation allegation
Trikomiti altered scores at the European Gymnastics Championships held in Budapest in May 2024 in favour of Cypriot athlete Vera Tugolukova, to the detriment of Polish athlete Liliana Lewinska, to secure Tugolukova’s participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Investigations and disciplinary actions
The Gymnastics Ethics Foundation first published its findings on the manipulation in February 2025, followed by a disciplinary suspension of the judge by the International Gymnastics Federation.
The International Gymnastics Federation had previously imposed an €8,000 fine on the European Gymnastics Federation to cover the costs of the investigation.
Impact on Olympic participation and Cyprus response
The federation said the initial ruling had no impact on Tugolukova’s participation in the Olympic Games, stating it was not part of the “field of competition” regulations.
The Cyprus Gymnastics Federation launched an investigation into the case in February 2025, saying it was “committed to taking all necessary actions in accordance with the law and ensuring that the appropriate measures are implemented.”
Trikomiti’s position
Trikomiti denied the disciplinary commission’s findings and described the decision as “unjustified.”
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