National Sports Tribunal executive Kitty Chiller sanctioned by international gymnastics body

Kitty Chiller, the former Chief Executive of Gymnastics Australia - and now Deputy Chief Executive of the National Sports Tribunal - has been sanctioned by global governing body the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

Chiller, who is also a member of the Australian Olympic Committee executive, was earlier this week sanctioned for her role in “judging irregularities” at an Olympic qualification event in 2021 and banned from representing international gymnastic bodies for two years.

The disciplinary commission of the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation announced that an investigation has found violations of FIG rules during the 2021 Oceania Continental Championships in rhythmic gymnastics.

In addition to sanctioning Chiller (pictured), who was at Gymnastics Australia at the time of the violations, the commission suspended two Australian gymnastics judges, Virginia Elliott and Erin Pankoke and fined Gymnastics Australia and the Oceania Gymnastics Union over $7,000 each plus costs.

The violations related to Lidiia Iakovleva narrowly beating Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva in the individual competition in May last year to secure a place at the Tokyo Olympics.

Gymnastics Australia previously noted on its website a "technical irregularity" affected the event.

A statement provided to the ABC declined to provide more detail about the competition, but said the organisation was aware of the decision and it "will take some time to consider the decision and next steps for the organisation and the sport."

"As the individuals concerned have 21 days to lodge an appeal against the sanctions, Gymnastics Australia will reserve any further comment on the matter at this time."

On Wednesday former gymnast Mary-Anne Monckton, a two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist, posted on Twitter: “How does Kitty Chiller get to keep her job as the deputy CEO of the National Sports Tribunal?”

Chiller, a former modern pentathlete who competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was the first woman to lead an Australian Olympic team as Chef de Mission, at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. From 2017 to earlier this year, she led Gymnastics Australia during a turbulent period as it handled allegations of widespread abuse within the sport.

An independent review by the Australian Human Rights Commission revealed “systemic risk factors” within the sport which exacerbated the risk of child abuse, sexual harassment and bullying.

Gymnastics Australia’s response to abuse complaints during Chiller’s tenure has been criticised. Earlier this year the ABC reported that Chiller’s office co-drafted the policy governing what was labelled an “independent” complaints process, which saw some complaints deemed “out of scope”.

Gymnastics Australia told Guardian Australia that it was aware of the decision and would “take some time to consider the decision and next steps for the organisation and the sport”.

A spokesperson advised “as the individuals concerned have 21 days to lodge an appeal against the sanctions, Gymnastics Australia will reserve any further comment on the matter at this time.”

A spokesperson for the Australian Olympic Committee said it noted the sanction and was “not aware of the nature nor the details of the matter and further notes there is scope for an appeal”, going on to stated “while qualification events are a matter for individual sporting federations, the AOC has had full confidence in the integrity of the nomination and selection process.”

The National Sports Tribunal issued a statement to the ABC, saying it had "noted" the decision but that the events occurred prior to Chiller's appointment with the organisation.

The statement added "Ms Chiller has had, and will have, no involvement in any Gymnastics matters (of any sort) which come to the NST."