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Updated at 2:54 a.m., Monday, February 16, 2009

Olympics: Panel dismisses wrestler Abrahamian's appeal vs. IOC

Associated Press

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Sport's highest tribunal has dismissed an attempt by Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian to get back the bronze medal he was stripped of after the Beijing Olympics.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport says the International Olympic Committee acted correctly when it revoked the medal because Abrahamian had dropped it on the floor in protest at a penalty call.

The IOC stripped Abrahamian of the medal and expelled him from the games after ruling he violated the Olympic charter and was disrespectful to other medalists.

CAS said Monday that "the decision of the IOC Executive Board was not disproportionate in the circumstances."

Abrahamian was also banned for two years and fined for "scandalous behavior" by wrestling federation FILA.