BARCELONA, Spain -- Russian weightlifter Ibragim Samadov was stripped of his Olympic bronze after hurling his medal to the ground and storming off before the medal ceremony, officials said Saturday.
'The behavior of Samadov is unacceptable and contrary to all forms of sporting ethics,' the International Olympic Committee executive committee announced.
'The said athlete must be excluded from the Games of the 25th Olympiad in Barcelona and his medal shall be withdrawn and returned to the IOC.'
World champion Samadov, 24, was furious after being placed third in the light heavyweight competition Friday.
'The athlete grabbed the medal from the hands of Mr. Filaretos, IOC member assigned to the presentation. The athlete threw the medal to the ground and left,' the IOC communique said.
As the IOC executive board met to decide his fate Saturday, the Russian news agency Tass said Samadov had written, claiming he had been ill and did not remember anything of the incident.
A medical certificate signed by the Unified Team doctor was considered by the IOC before the decision was made.
The Unified Team has been told to return the medal and Sadamov's Olympiccredentials.
IOC officials said because the incident took place after the competition, fourth-placed lifter Asian champion Chol Ho Chon of North Korea would not be awarded the bronze.
Samadov put on a poor performance, only managing 27 1-2 pounds (12.5 kg) below his personal best in the combined lift, as Greek supporters cheered his failure to beat gold medalist Pyrros Dimas.
Three competitors tied at the same combined lift, but Samadov was placed third because he was the heaviest. In weightlifting, a tie is decided by grading competitors according to body weight.
Samadov, world champion in Donaueschingen, Germany in 1991, seemed frustrated during his sub-par performance.
A tense moment came when he failed his last lift, giving Dimas the gold. As the bar fell to the platform, a flag-waving Greek group erupted in cheers causing Samadov to halt and glare at his tormentors. He was visibly angry as he lumbered off the stage.
'Even his own teammates were surprised at his behavior. They had not noticed anything before,' said IOC spokeswoman Michelle Verdier.
Dimas expressed bewilderment.
'I don't know why he did not show at the ceremony, but all this kills the spirit of the Olympic Games,' he said.
