The International Judo Federation on Monday confirmed that France's David Douillet should not have won a controversial point that gave him a decisive win over Japan's Shinichi Shinohara in the heavyweight final at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

But it also rejected the widely held view in Japan that, instead, referees should have awarded Shinohara an outright win.

The ruling does not alter the outcome of the bout, and Douillet keeps the gold medal. However, if the point had not been allowed to stand at the end of the over 100-kg final, the two combatants would have deadheated and the referees would have had to judge a winner.

The IJF on Monday confirmed the ruling of its Referees' Commission that neither fighter had the control necessary to score from a crucial exchange 1 minute and 30 seconds into the bout, when Douillet attempted a throw and Shinohara countered.

"We have carefully studied the materials submitted by the (All) Japan Judo Federation (AJJF) and we accept the referees' commission's decision that neither competitor had executed a technique," said IJF President Park Yong Sung.

Douillet attempted an "uchimata" inner-thigh throw. Shinohara tried to turn it into an "uchimata-sukashi" throw. The Frenchman ended up on his back and Shinohara punched the air in victory.

One judge signaled an "ippon" win to Shinohara. But referee Craig Monaghan of New Zealand then sided with the other judge to give Douillet a "yuko."

An AJJF call to alter the score was rejected because referees had already left the mat.

On Monday, the IJF said the Commission reviewed "various videos (of the crucial exchange) many, many times in regular speed, slow motion and frame by frame."

The Commission said that Douillet had control going into his throw, but lost it. Shinohara took control, but did not execute the countermove that the AJJF claims he had.

"If Mr. Shinohara had thrown Mr. Douillet, Mr. Shinohara would have fallen differently and his body position would be different," the Commission said.

After the controversial call, the two fighters struggled on. Douillet incurred two penalties that evened the match. But Douillet won another "yuko" to win by the same margin as the controversial point.

An AJJF official said Tuesday that the federation would decide at an executive committee meeting Nov. 6 whether to comment on the IJF ruling.