BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Olympic gold and silver medalist Evgeni Plushenko has lost his eligibility because he skated in exhibition shows after the world championships without receiving permission from the Russian figure skating federation.
The decision means Plushenko cannot compete in International Skating Union events, such as the world championships or Grand Prix series. Plushenko, who has said he plans to continue through the Sochi Olympics in 2014, has three weeks to appeal the ISU’s decision, announced Monday.
Plushenko, who won the gold medal at the Turin Olympics and silver in Vancouver, withdrew from the March 22-27 world championships after experiencing pain while landing a quadruple jump. But he skated in two exhibitions the following week, putting him in conflict with the ISU’s eligibility rules.
