Louis Weston successfully acts for the GEF in sports sanctions case against the AGF

Louis Weston acted for the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation (GEF) in the prosecution of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation (AGF) and its Coaches regarding allegations of physical and psychological abuse of gymnasts in Azerbaijan.

Louis Weston, Head of Outer Temple’s Sports Group, successfully acted for the GEF in the disciplinary proceedings against the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, its former Head Coach Mariana Vasileva, Acting Head Coach Siyana Vasileva, Coach Evgeniya Vilyayeva and AGF Sport Director Natalia Bulanova for charges of alleged physical and psychological abuse against multiple rhythmic gymnasts in Azerbaijan between 2013 and 2021.

The Gymnastics Ethics Foundation (GEF) was founded in January 2019 by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), the world governing body for the sport of gymnastics. It now operates independently to ensure that violations of FIG rules, policies, and procedures, including ethical breaches, are handled in an unbiased way.

The case concluded in December 2024 after a four-year international investigation with allegations proved against each and the most serious sanctions ever imposed by the GEF’s Disciplinary Commission Panel being applied. The AGF itself was fined and banned from high-level competitions until 2026. The Respondents have a right of appeal.

The reported judgment can be found here.

The case has been covered widely in the press:

• Inside the Games – Sanctions over abuse in Azerbaijani gymnastics
• Sport Resolutions – Sanctions issued due to abuse in Azerbaijani gymnastics
• CBC – Olympic coaches sanctioned in international investigation of abuse in Azerbaijan rhythmic gymnastics

Find out more

Louis Weston is a highly regarded Commercial and Sports Law litigator. In Sports Law he has acted for many years in Sports Regulation, Governance, Disciplinary Cases, Safeguarding and Anti-Doping and is ranked as a leading junior in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500. He has appeared in many of the leading cases in the UK involving corruption in sport and has acted for and advised national and international sports regulatory bodies in the UK, Ireland, the Middle East and Asia across a range of sports including Horseracing, Snooker, Badminton, Rugby, Darts, Cricket, Gymnastics, and Greyhound Racing. Louis accepts direct access instructions in appropriate cases. 

To find out more, contact Paul Barton on +44 (0)20 7427 4907 or Matt Sale on +44 (0)20 7427 4910 for a confidential discussion.

News 17 Jan, 2025