CAS chides federation over judging dispute

By Karolos Grohmann

BEIJING (Reuters) - The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Saturday chided the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) for a lack of procedures to deal with a wrestler's complaint who challenged judges' calls.

Swedish greco-roman wrestler Ara Abrahamian was stripped of his 84kg-category bronze medal last week after he threw it down during the medals' ceremony, in protest to refereeing in his semi-final.

Abrahamian, a silver medalist in Athens, had to be restrained by team mates when a row erupted with judges over the decision in the semi-final bout with Andrea Minguzzi of Italy, who went on the take gold.

He had claimed judges had not been impartial when awarding a semi-final bout to Minguzzi.

"FILA is required ... to provide a procedure in its rules for an appeal jury to hear promptly claims by athletes or others affected that in a competition the relevant officials have not complied with FILA rules and procedures," CAS said.

"In any event, FILA did not follow Article 22 properly, if at all, or provide any other appropriate appeal mechanism in this case," it said in a statement.

CAS said while the Swedish Olympic Committee and Abrahamian himself were not interested in reinstating the athlete and his medal, he had the right to challenge the outcome of his case.

"The two applicants did not seek any particular relief from the CAS regarding the ranking or the allocation of medals for this event, neither did they seek a review of the IOC decision to exclude Ara Abrahamian from the Beijing Games," it said.

"The applicant is also entitled to invoke the disciplinary process contemplated by article 36 of the constitution."

The IOC last week ruled the wrestler had acted against the Olympic charter by putting his medal down and stripped him of it and excluded him from the Games.

The IOC had said his action went against the spirit of fair play, insulted his fellow competitors and constituted a demonstration, which is banned inside Olympic venues.

(Editing by Jeremy Laurence)