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According to The Associated Press Yuri van Gelder withdrew from Worlds due to cocaine use – as first guessed by Rick.

The Dutch gymnastics union says it has dropped former world champion Yuri van Gelder from its team for the Gymnastics World Championships because he admitted using cocaine again.
Jos Geukers of the Royal Netherlands Gymnastics Union said Wednesday that Van Gelder had “fallen back into” cocaine use.
Van Gelder had been expected to make his comeback to major competition at the Worlds after serving a one-year ban for cocaine use. …

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The All Around has just posted on their Facebook that the North Korea Gymnastics Federation have launched an appeal for the to FIG against the decision to ban the Federation from competition for 30 days.

**Update from FIG**
On October 1, 2010, the FIG has initiated a disciplinary procedure against the Gymnastics Association of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (PRK) and their gymnast Ms. Hong Su Jong for alleged age infractions and false registrations.
The President of the FIG Disciplinary Commission in charge of this case has taken immediate action …

Tweet So much news with the World Championships in Rotterdam!

The All Around has an excellent post on WAG Potential Scoring

I’m insanely jealous of Brigid (The Couch Gymnast) for being at Worlds and being able to report to us all, she’s doing an amazing job!

Yesterdays big story from Worlds was that Dutch gymnast Yuri van Gelder will not compete due to ‘medical reasons of a personal nature’ – read more from the World Championships Official Website

Bea from Gymnastics, No Ceiling posted a picture of the Romanian girls at Podium training. The …

Tweet Team GB are set and ready for Worlds and will be departing for Rotterdam soon for the World Championships. The Teams main aim is to make the top 24 Teams and therefore proceed further to the second round of the Olympic Qualifications, in Tokyo at the 2011 World Championships.
Womens Team:
Beth Tweddle
Hannah Whelan
Danusia Francis
Nicole Hibbert
Jenni Pinches
Becky Downie

Mens Team:
Louis Smith
Ruslan Pantelymonov
Sam Hunter
Dan Purvis
Theo Seager
Kristian Thomas
There will be extensive coverage on BBC TV from Worlds – as we had such a great response from readers for our Commonwealth Games TV Coverage …

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Gymnastike has some videos from the Commonwealth Games 2010
Amy from The All Around has posted links that will have coverage from the World Championships
FIG report on Commonwealth Games gymnastics
GymNiceTic has updated their previous list of new gymnastics blogs – nice to see Full Twist still there
Geoffrey Taucer continues to update his blog aimed at educating parents about the technical side of gymnastics

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Former Russian Olympic gymnast Elena Davydova moved to Canada in 1991 and since then has been coaching and working in Gemini Gymnastics in Oshawa. Recently Elena was interviewed by Durham Region and discussed how she has created national champions, coaching and her relationship with gymnasts.

Do you try to be more than a coach to your gymnasts?
Davydova: You always feel like a mother. I hope that all of them fell that I am giving them my heart. Basically, I’m their mother in the gym looking after them. I …

Tweet Some photos of the Men’s Artistic Individual Final in Dehli yesterday. Click here for more pictures.
England’s Luke Folwell

Constantinos Aristotelous of Cyprus

Reiss Beckford

Joshua Jefferis

Tweet By now you will have heard about Indian gymnast Ashish Kumar’s historic achievement, winning Indias first gymnastics medals in the Commonwealth Games. It’s a fantastic achievement, unfortunately not everyone thinks so. According to The Times of India,  Jaspal Singh Kandhari, President of the Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) has asked coach Vladimir Chertkov “Is this all that you can deliver, a bronze?“.

The  Gymnastics Federation of India is content to continue its step-motherly, and often cruel, treatment of players and coaches. It’s either unaware of the extent of their …

Tweet The FIG has come down hard on North Korea for the latest age falsification scandal. Disiplinary procedures have been initiated against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (PRK) and the gymnast involved, Hong Su Jong. The FIG have banned the North Korean Gymnastics Federation from entering international and national competitions for 30 days. As this is effective immediately, North Korea will not be eligible to take part in the upcoming World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam.

You may have read the story that has unfolded over the past couple of …

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While I was asleep last night, the WAG USA Worlds Team for 2010 was announced:

Rebecca Bross
Mackenzie Caquatto
Chelsea Davis
Mattie Larson
Aly Raisman
Alicia Sacramone
Bridget Sloan

It seems that Bridget Sloan has recovered from injury to prove that she is able to compete. There’s not too many surprises really,  Cassie Whitcombe and Sam Shapiro are excluded from the selection due to injury. Best of luck to Team USA!

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USA Gymnastics just posted this picture on their Facebook page. It’s a shot from their final World Camp Selection.

The Worlds Team Selection announcement is due this evening in the USA, however since it’s nearly 12am here, I’ll be asleep. Can’t wait to wake up in the morning and hear the news. Best of luck to all of the girls!

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According to This Is Exeter, before winning her team Silver medal yesterday in the Commonwealth Games, Imogen Cairns was considering retirement.
“I’ve put all my focus into just getting back to fitness again and being here and I really thought this would be my last competition before I retire,” she said.
“But everything goes so fast and maybe I might need to think again because I think I proved that I still have it.
“I will focus on this competition first and then have another think about it.”
Read more on This Is …

Tweet Thanks to Australian Gymnastics Blog for posting this link where you can watch the live stream of the Women’s All Around Individual Finals form the Commonwealth Games.
All of the action is set to kick off in about an hours time!

Tweet The 2010 Artistic World Championships has just announced that more tickets will go on sale for events on 22nd, 23rd and 24th of October. The Ahoy Centre has undergone some renovation work which has meant that more seating can be accommodated.
Read more here.

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If you’re a fan of the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships on Facebook you may have seen their latest status update. The official Facebook page are offering fans the chance to download the Official Tune, tune for Gymnasts Entrance and the Medal Ceremony tune for free. The songs are not yet published on their official website.
What do you think of the tunes? Which is your favourite?