Russian star Yevgeny Plushenko's hopes of recapturing his Olympic men's title at his home Games in Sochi have been dashed after the International Skating Union (ISU) on Monday withdrew his eligibility to compete, because the figure skater performed in ice shows.
The 27-year-old three-time world and 2006 Olympic champion had vowed to try and win back his title in 2014 after taking silver behind American Evan Lysacek in Vancouver this year.
But under international rules, Plushenko becomes ineligible for ISU approved competition the moment he takes part in another event.
And skating's world governing body confirmed they have pulled his eligibility on the grounds that he performed in exhibitions in Russia and other countries in March and April without approval.
In a statement the ISU said: "Such activity is a breach of the ISU eligibility rules and results in the loss of eligibility."
Plushenko has 21 days to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne and win if he hopes to compete at an ISU event in the future.
A similar situation occurred earlier this year when Canadian Joannie Rochette, who won an Olympic bronze days after her mother died, performed a tribute to her mother on the show "Thin Ice," but she obtained an exemption allowing her to keep her eligible status.