(FILE)

Shao Bin, a Chinese gymnastics judge, was downgraded by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) for breaking the rules during the Asian Games in 2010 by modifying scores to help a Chinese gymnast.

The FIG Disciplinary Commission announced recently that Shao will be downgraded from a category-two judge to a category-four judge and will be responsible for covering the legal cost of 7,200 Swiss Francs ($8,937) following a hearing held in April.

Shao, a former judge on the "D" panel, has said the FIG sanction is ridiculous and disappointing. Shao argued that FIG rules have a clause that a D1 judge has the right to "control" the final score and therefore he didn't break the rules.

According to the FIG statement, Shao has the right to lodge an appeal before September 9, but Shao said he would not appeal because he had clarified everything in the hearing in April.