Coach under investigation

But the coach denied ever demanding money from the gymnasts, telling a court that they had offered it to him out of gratitude for his help in winning medals.

Belu was responding to charges by former gymnast Oana Petrovschi, who stopped competing in 2003, that Belu and his colleague Mariana Bitang had asked her for money in exchange for their contribution to her success.

"I admit that I received around $3,000 from Petrovschi without having any special contract," Belu told Reuters. "But I never forced any of my gymnasts to give me money from their prizes. It's a habit we've had for years."

Petrovschi, 18, a bars silver medallist at the 2002 World Championships in Debrecen, asked the court to force Belu to give her back $5,000.

"Petrovschi gave Belu around $5,000, which he must give back to her," her lawyer, Dana Pavelescu, told Reuters.

Belu admitted in court he had received $3,000, which he was ready to return, but made clear he had never asked for it.

"The gymnasts themselves and their families always asked me to help their girls to get medals promising me different sums from their prizes for my efforts," Belu said. "I never asked athletes for money, they offered to me as much as they thought I deserved it for my efforts."

Petrovschi has also sued her trainers for 1.5 billion lei ($51,800) in damages, alleging that she had been forced to train with a bad back. Her lawyer said she had evidence showing she was injured but forced to train.

"The Romanian Gymnastics Federation and the coaches went on to push her to train and compete," Pavelescu said.

Belu rejected the accusations, saying that it was up to the team doctors to decide whether an athlete was fit to train. The federation said it had not been involved in any decision regarding the athlete's training.

"The medical team tell me whether I can or not train with an athlete," Belu said. "The doctors never told me Petrovski was not fit enough to train or to compete."

Belu and Bitang have in the past faced accusations of physical abuse and cruelty during training. The pair have denied the allegations.

Two years ago, they threatened to quit the Olympic team unless gymnasts signed contracts preventing them from lodging complaints after their active careers were over. The gymnasts refused to sign.

Belu has led Romanian gymnasts to more than 200 Olympic, World and European medals in his career.