Russia chief hits out at 'judging mafia'

Russia's gymnastics chief Leonid Arkayev has added his voice to a chorus of public opinion calling for major reforms in his sport.

Russia's gymnastics chief Leonid Arkayev has added his voice to a chorus of public opinion calling for major reforms in his sport, saying Olympic gymnasts are powerless against what he called "judging mafia".

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The gymnastics competition in Athens has been embroiled in controversy over judging decisions, prompting Russia to lodge a forceful protest with International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Jacques Rogge on Tuesday.

"A judging mafia rules gymnastics," Arkayev, president of the Russian Gymnastics Federation and the country's chief coach, was quoted as saying in Wednesday's Sovietsky Sport newspaper.

Several curent and former gymnasts have called for a major change in how their performances are judged following a spate of disputed medals that have tarnished the sport.

Monday's final on the horizontal bar at the Olympic Indoor Hall was brought to a standstill as the crowd jeered and booed the judges for giving Russia's Alexei Nemov low marks.

Nemov, a 12 times Olympic medallist and defending champion in the event, wowed the crowd with an amazing routine but was awarded only a 9.725, well behind American Paul Hamm.

"Nemov had six release and catch manoeuvres while Hamm only one. Even a blind person can see who is better," Arkayev said.

"And what do we see? The American gets a 9.812. It doesn't come close but no one can say anything."

"I'm a member of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) executive board and I was involved in adopting the ethics code for our sport," added Arkayev.

"Probably I should not say this but I cannot be silent anymore. (Judging) is a mafia! We're powerless to act against them because they feel they are simply untouchable."

NEMOV "CHEATED"

Arkayev said the sport needed major reform and transparency in key appointments to remove judging bias.

Afterwards Nemov said he felt cheated by the judges.

Russian Olympic team spokesman Gennady Shvets said in Athens that Nemov was, however, resigned to the result and would not appeal. He also appreciated the support of the public.

"That he is finishing his career, not with a victory, nor with a gold medal, such an exit is a little sad," Shvets said.

"But in the end he says he is happy all the same."

"He won the sympathy of a great many people."

Asked if he thought Nemov would continue competing, Arkayev said: "I don't think so. In any case, I wouldn't want him to continue in the current situation."

Shvets said there had been "obvious" judging errors and Russia felt the United States had won too many gold medals.

"There's always a problem of refereeing in whatever sport, there are relationships, a bit of corruption, a bit of money, sometimes there are relationships among people, very many, that don't always work in one's favour," Shvets said.

But Russia were not expecting radical decisions from Rogge: "This letter is not a call for revolution or a revision of the results in gymnastics," he said. "The sports chiefs just want to draw the attention of their colleague to what's going on in gymnastics so it doesn't happen again in the future."