Judge Deriugina fails to overturn ban

BEIJING (Reuters) - Rhythmic gymnastics judge and former world champion Irina Deriugina on Sunday failed in her last-ditch attempt to overturn a four-year ban that would stop her from officiating at the Beijing Olympics.

The Ukrainian was banned by the ruling body of gymnastics (FIG) for improperly influencing the result of a competition, behaving in an offensive way toward gymnasts or officials, and damaging the image of the sport.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the suspension, which means she will also miss the 2012 London Games.

"CAS confirmed to suspend Ms Deriugina from her function as a member of the rhythmic gymnastics and any other official function within the FIG immediately and until the end of...2012," it said in a statement released by the FIG.

The four-times world champion was also ordered to pay 2000 Swiss francs ($1,944) to cover FIG's costs.

FIG had initially banned Deriugina for eight years but that punishment was halved by the federation's appeals tribunal.

She will, however, be allowed to coach at the games.

Deriugina also missed the 2000 Games while serving an earlier one-year suspension for discriminating against Elena Vitrichenko, a Ukrainian gymnast who trained at a rival gym, during a European championships competition in Spain.

A former member of the FIG's technical commission for rhythmic gymnastics, Deriugina had helped to train and evaluate judges.

She had been scheduled to be a member of the superior jury, which amends poor judging decisions and handles disciplinary issues, in Beijing.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)