Wrestler stripped of medal
2008-08-16 14:06
Beijing - A Swedish wrestler has been disqualified and stripped of his bronze medal for dropping his medal in protest.
The International Olympic Committee says Ara Abrahamian has been kicked out of the Beijing Olympics for violating the spirit of fair play during the medal ceremony.
Abrahamian walked off the medals podium and dropped the medal on the mat after taking third in the Greco-Roman 84kg division on Thursday.
He became incensed when a disputed penalty call decided his semi-final match against Italian Andrea Minguzzi, who went on to win the gold medal.
The IOC executive board ruled on Saturday that the wrestler's action amounted to a political demonstration and a mark of disrespect to his fellow athletes.
The IOC says no athlete will receive Abrahamian's medal.
AFP reported from Sofia meanwhile that Bulgarian 1 500m runner Daniela Yordanova had been pulled from the national team at the Olympics after testing positive for doping.
Bulgarian television reported on Saturday that the decision had been taken by the Bulgarian athletics federation after results of a second test confirmed a high level of testosterone in her urine.
Yordanova would now be banned from all competitions for two years, officials said.
- AP