The Romanian Federation of Gymnastics took Ungureanu, 19, off the list of athletes competing for the award to protest her appearance in Playboy. The awards are to be held later this month.

Gymnastics officials have accused Ungureanu of dishonouring the sport after she appeared nude in December's issue of Playboy's Romanian edition.

``If the federation considers that I was not part of the team, then that's their right,'' Ungureanu said in response.

Ungureanu was part of the Romanian team that won the world championships in 1997 in Puerto Rico and the 1999 world championships in China.

Star gymnast Nadia Comaneci, who was recently voted the top female athlete of the century, also criticized Ungureanu, saying ``I don't think it was a very good idea. It damages the image of Romanian gymnastics.''

But another Romanian gymnast, Lavinia Milosovici, said the gymnastic community should not be so critical of Ungureanu. BUCHAREST (AP)