FIG send Hamm plea

With the 9.9 tarif instead of the 10 he should have had, the mistake left the Korean with bronze, a mere 0.049 points behind Hamm.

Governing body FIG have admitted the tenth wrongly omitted should have seen Yang take gold and now president Grandi has asked Hamm to back up media quotes saying he would give the medal back by actually handing over the gold.

Citing Hamm as being quoted in the press as saying, "If FIG decide I have to give it [the medal] back, I'll do it," Grandi wrote enigmatically: "If you would return your medal to the Korean if FIG requested it, then such an action would be recognised as the ultimate demonstration of fairplay by the whole world."

But the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) said the letter was a "blatant and inappropriate" attempt by the FIG to shift responsibility for its mistake onto the shoulders of 21-year-old Hamm.

"The USOC finds this request to be improper, outrageous and so far beyond the bounds of what is acceptable that it refuses to transmit the letter to Mr Hamm," it said in a statement.

USOC chiefs had two lengthy conversations with Hamm, his parents and representatives on Thursday night, it said.

"During these conversations, the USOC expressed its unwavering support for Mr Hamm and indicated it will aggressively resist any attempt by any party to lay claim to his gold medal," the statement said.

The USOC also said it was no longer willing to consider allowing a second gold medal to be awarded to Yang, one suggestion floated as a way of defusing the row.

The FIG letter also said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would appreciate Hamm handing back his medal. But the IOC said it had not been consulted and regarded the debate surrounding Hamm's medal as closed.

"The results of the gymnastics have been validated and communicated by the FIG. There is no question that remains open on this issue," an IOC spokeswoman said