体坛英语新闻：Plushenko stripped of eligibility, out of Olympics

GENEVA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Russian figure skating prince Evgeni Plushenko has lost his eligibility after failing to appeal a June decision by the International Skating Union (ISU) which banned him from "any ISU activity", announced the governing body on Monday.

The Olympic gold and silver medalist was punished for skating in exhibitions without permission from the Russian federation. The ISU informs on Monday that no appeal against the decision has been filed by Plushenko within the 21-day deadline, and the decision was final.

The Russian is now ineligible for "any ISU activity", the ISU said, including the Olympics, world championships and Grand Prix series.

File photo of Russia's Evgeni Plushenko. The Olympic gold and silver medalist has lost his eligibility for the Sochi Olympics after failing to appeal a June decision by the International Skating Union, which punished Plushenko for skating in exhibitions without permission from the Russian federation. Plushenko did not appeal in the allotted 21 days, and the ISU said Monday Aug. 23, 2010 its decision was final.

Plushenko is in Russia after spending the summer touring in Japan and will meet with his coach and federation officials to discuss his future, his agent Ari Zakarian said.

Plushenko, who turns 29 in November, ended a three-year retirement to skate in Vancouver and won the silver medal. he won the gold medal at the Turin Olympics and is also a three-time world champion.

The Russian veteran skated in two exhibitions the week after he withdrew from the worlds in March, putting him in conflict with ISU's eligibility rules.

According to ISU rules, skaters are allowed to perform in events not sanctioned by the ISU, but only if they've been given permission by their national federations.