Romanian Olympic women's team disbanded

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian gymnastics was in disarray on Tuesday when the women's national team, winners of four Olympic golds in Athens, were disbanded after two of their leading members went nightclubbing without permission.

The Romanian Gymnastics Federation (FRG) said it broke up the team after state television station showed triple Olympic champion Catalina Ponor and Floarea Leonida returning from a Bucharest nightclub to their hotel early on Sunday morning.

"At an FRG emergency meeting, we decided to dismantle the female Olympic team following a string of unacceptable events," FRG sport director Anca Grigoras told Reuters.

"Ponor and Leonida spent a night in a nightclub without the permission of their coaches and this behavior is unacceptable for top-level sports performance."

Romania's national coaches Octavian Belu and Mariana Bitang, with no team at their disposal, have asked the FRG if they can resign.

"Coaches Belu and Bitang have no athletes to train so they have no purpose in their job," said Grigoras. "They will receive an answer to their request within the next few days.

"The team has been disbanded and the athletes will now train at their own clubs, if they want."

Earlier this month, double Olympic champion Monica Rosu and Alexandra Eremia quit the team after gaining weight and losing interest in their national training programme.

A fifth member of Romania's Olympic team, Daniela Sofronie, has since followed suit.

"We cannot continue in such conditions," Belu told Reuters. "The medals Romania have won so far were the result of a clear training system under an iron discipline ... giving this up means we have no chance for further medals.

"We can speak about a new Romanian Olympic team next year, when a new generation of gymnasts comes through," Belu added. "This year's world championships are compromised for Romania."

The 38th world championships will take place in Melbourne, Australia from November 21 to 27.

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