Russian star gymnast Angelina Melnikova will no longer compete for TSV Tittmoning-Chemnitz, a gymnastics club in eastern Germany, at the season-ending Bundesliga finals as previously planned, the club's coach told DW.

Melnikova, 25, signed on with Chemnitz earlier this month, but her debut in the penultimate Bundesliga competition of the season on November 15 in Esslingen, a German town near Stuttgart, attracted controversy because of her links to Russian President Vladimir Putin and her support for the war in Ukraine. That appears to violate the International Gymnastics Federation (the FIG) neutrality rules.

In his opening remarks at the Esslingen competition, the city's mayor, Matthias Klopfer, pleaded with Chemnitz to reconsider their decision to bring on Melnikova. However, protests against her participation didn't materialize.

Asked on Monday if Melnikova would compete at the finals in Heidelberg on November 29, Chemnitz coach Tatjana Bachmayer told DW, "No, she will not."

Bachmayer said she would comment further once the finals were over, adding that she wanted to focus on preparing her team for the competition. She called the previous two weeks "very intense."

DW understands the Chemnitz board made the final decision, mainly to protect the club's coaches.

Why has Melnikova been allowed to compete?

The FIG gave 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." She has been pictured posing with the Russian military "Z" symbol, which is referenced explicitly in the rules.

The Russian gymnast has refused to discuss her neutral status, answering with "no comment" in an interview with German broadcaster SWR in Esslingen.

Since 2023, the FIG has allowed Russian and Belarusian gymnasts to compete as "neutral" athletes. Three such athletes took part in the trampoline competition at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The FIG won't explain its decision regarding Melnikova, saying it doesn't comment on individual cases. The Deutsche Turnliga, which oversees Germany's gymnastics league, said it was following the FIG's rules.

Melnikova has enjoyed a triumphant return to international competition, winning two gold medals, including the all-around title, and a silver at October's world championships in Jakarta, Indonesia. That success was even noticed by Putin, who congratulated her on a "triumphant performance."