Chinese head coach Huang Yubin called Aug 6, 2012, "a dark day in gymnastics' history", as disputed scoring deprived China's "king of the rings" Chen Yibing the Olympic gold medal on Monday.

Controversy erupted when Chen, the defending champion, finished his flawless routine with sound execution and a stable landing, while his 22-year-old Brazilian rival Arthur Nabarrete stumbled during the landing but edged Chen out by one-tenth of a point with a score of 15.900.

China was gagged from appealing because the two shared the same 6.8 difficulty and rules stipulate execution scores cannot be altered.

Huang later lashed out at the referees' judgment in his column on the popular portal Sina.com.

"I think most people in the world respected and cheered wholeheartedly for my gymnasts - but, today, the referees didn't," Huang wrote.

"They chose to let the Brazilian gymnast, who had an obviously flawed routine, step onto the highest podium, which I believe not only hurt the Chinese gymnastics team and Chen but also all the world's gymnastics fans.

"Referees are the judges on the sports field. They should be strict but impartial. But they made inconceivable judgments.

"Let me ask: Will you feel ashamed when you recall this final years later? Do you think Chen will have another four years? Will you feel guilty when you see my gymnasts' knees full of wounds?"

The coach said Chen delivered the most perfect routine of his life for the world but was denied the championship he deserved.

"Actually, I feel bitter inside, but I did my best - even better than when I was the champion in Beijing," said Chen, who kissed the apparatus after his routine.

"But what can I do? Fight the referees?" he added, smiling.

But many who watched Chen's flawless routine were upset and voiced their discontent.

The women's uneven bars silver medalist He Kexin and her teammate Yao Jinnan said they couldn't believe the result. China's former star gymnast Liu Xuan wrote on her Sina Weibo micro blog account: "Can't appeal for the execution score - maybe the referees are dying to vacation in Brazil - the bootlickers!"

Iordan Iovtchev, Bulgaria's six-time Olympian and its gymnastics federation president, said: "The Chinese didn't even twitch, and I think he was the best. The judges probably were looking for a little variety."

Italian coach Maurizio Allievi said: "He (Nabarrete) can't match Chen and Morandi (bronze medalist) at all. Chen is better than Morandi in his routine execution."

The 28-year-old had been expected to retain his crown in his best event after he led his team to defend the title earlier.

Chen will retire after the national games next year and finish graduate courses at Beijing Physical Education University.

Contact the writer at tangzhe@chinadaily.com.cn.

(China Daily 08/08/2012 page10)