The Bulgarian Olympic team claims Jovchev should have won the gold in the men’s rings final. The judges crowned with gold Greek Dimosthenis Tampakos. Photo by BNT
The International Gymnastics Federation will consider Bulgaria's appeal against the ranking in the Olympic men's rings contest, which left Jordan Jovtchev second, the International Olympics Committee ruled.
Earlier in the day the Bulgarian delegation in Athens filed a contestation against the judging, which crowned with gold Dimosthenis Tampakos for the host nation, outscoring the Bulgarian by just 0.012 of a point.
The 31-year-old Jovchev was obviously neglected by a host-dominated jury and garnered 9.850.
Five-time world champion Yuri Chechi, of Italy, clinched bronze.
According to the Bulgarian team spokeswoman Zdravka Jordanova Tampakos had been credited with too high a degree of difficulty.
"What the Greek did was much easier," Jordanova said.