Gymnasts Banned After Appearing in Porn Flick

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania banned three former Olympic medalists from refereeing and coaching in official events for five years after appearing in an adult movie in Japan, officials said Thursday.

The Romanian Gymnastics Federation (FRG) decision came the day after Romania's team escaped a Japanese Gymnastics Association ban from a contest in Yokohama next year as the trio were found to be no longer affiliated to their national association.

FRG head Nicolae Vieru said the athletes could use their own images but had no right to use the emblems of the national federation.

"Also the international reaction triggered our decision," he said.

Vieru said the three athletes would be allowed to coach privately.

Romanian dailies reported that Lavinia Milosovici, 26 who won the floor exercise and vault titles at the 1992 Barcelona Games and two other gymnasts had appeared in a nude picture book published in Japan and performed naked gym routines in a movie now available in DVD form.

The papers had said the Japanese gymnastics officials were offended by the nude appearance of the three even though they were all now retired from the sport.

The trio, which also includes 23-year-old Claudia Presecan, a gold medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and Corina Ungureanu have not denied appearing nude but claimed the pictures had been slightly doctored.