Raducan appeals all-around decision

Romanian Olympic gymnastics champion Andreea Raducan has appealed against the decision to strip her gold medal for failing a drug test.

Raducan - called the "new Nadia" after being compared to the legendary Nadia Comaneci - failed the test after Romania's team physician Ioachim Oana gave her two Nurofen tablets as a cold remedy.

Olympic chiefs reaffirmed a strict zero-tolerance anti-doping policy by disqualifying Raducan after she tested positive for use of the banned stimulant pseudoephedrine following the individual all-around competition last Thursday, where Raducan won gold.

But last night, the Court of Arbitration for Sport issued a statement saying Raducan (17), planned to appeal against the decision. The sports tribunal will hold a special three-member hearing at its Sydney office today.

Raducan will keep her gold and silver medals from the other events. Her gold medal from the individual event should go to compatriot Simona Amanar, but she is refusing to accept it.

The decision has prompted a wave of sympathy for Raducan. "It's a real shame because she's only 17-years-old and, if she took it, it was only because her doctor gave it to her," IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch said.