A Dutch judge has rejected gymnast Yuri van Gelder’s legal bid for reinstatement in the Netherlands’ Olympic team in time to compete in Monday’s rings final.
The brief written decision by Judge Ronald Boonekamp, can be appealed, but in a text message to The Associated Press.
Van Gelder took his fight to take part in the Olympics rings final to a Dutch court Friday, arguing he was unfairly thrown out of Rio by team managers for late-night drinking and missing an early morning training session.
The high-stakes hearing in a packed courtroom in the eastern city of Arnhem was the latest twist in 33-year-old Van Gelder's turbulent sports career which, alongside his 2005 world title, has also featured a ban for cocaine use and being dropped from a Dutch World Championships team for alleged drug use.