FEBRUARY 16 - SWEDISH wrestler Ara Abrahamian, who threw his bronze medal away in protest at the Olympics last year, will not be able to get it back, Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled today.

 

The CAS said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was correct when it took Abrahamian's medal away.

 

He left it on the floor after the medal ceremony, in protest over a penalty call.

 

Afterwards, the IOC stripped Abrahamian of the bronze medal and expelled him from the Games, saying he violated the Olympic charter and disrespected the other medallists.

 

The CAS said: "The decision of the IOC Executive Board was not disproportionate in the circumstances."

 

In addition to being suspended by the IOC, Abrahamian was banned for two years and fined by the international wrestling federation (FILA).

 

Abrahamian was upset at the officiating in his semi-final match at the Beijing Olympics against the eventual gold medallist, Andrea Minguzzi of Italy.

 

It was a tight 3-2 decision and Abrahamian had to be restrained by his coaches from attacking the referee after the match.

 

Abrahamian took the bronze medal from around his neck during the awards ceremony, stepped off the podium and dropped it on the mat before walking off.