The Dutch Olympic team was forced to throw out its own gymnast, Yuri Van Gelder, Monday when he went out for a night of drinking after qualifying for the men’s ring finals.
Nicknamed the “Lord of the Rings,” Van Gelder had a promising future in the Rio games, only to reportedly throw it all away for a night with his Brazilian girlfriend.
According to a joint statement from the Dutch gymnastics association, KNGU, and the Dutch Olympic Committee, Van Gelder, 33, had “gravely violated” team rules and they had “no other choice” but to put him on the first plane home.
“It was a very difficult decision,” chef de mission Maurits Hendriks said in a statement on the KGNU website. “It’s terrible for Yuri, but this sort of behavior is unacceptable.”
Van Gelder has a long history of allowing substance abuse to interfere with his gymnastics career, however. Named Dutch Sportsman of the Year in 2005, Van Gelder disqualified himself from the 2012 London games when he tested positive for cocaine use in 2009, and a 2010 relapse days before the 2010 World Championships disqualified him from competing there as well.
Remi Lens, a former coach of Van Gelder, told De Telegraaf that the Olympian “is sensitive to the use of stimulants. The Dutch Olympic Team should’ve known that.”
“It took Yuri a long time to get here, but unfortunately he won’t be able to finish it,” said KNGU technical director Hans Gootjes.
Despite some support on social media criticizing the Dutch team for being too strict, Van Gelder has received a new global nickname, “Lord of the Pints.”