Olympics-Surfing-Australian surfing judge removed after photo with Australian surfer

FILE PHOTO: Paris 2024 Olympics - Surfing - Men's Round 3 - Heat 8 - Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia - July 29, 2024. Ethan Ewing of Australia celebrates with his coach after winning his heat. Ed Sloane/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

TEAHUPO'O, Tahiti (Reuters) - An Olympic surfing judge from Australia has been cut from the panel scoring the competition in Tahiti after a photo showing him posing with Australian surfer Ethan Ewing and the team manager circulated on social media.

The sport's governing body, the International Surfing Association, said it was inappropriate for a judge to be interacting with an athlete and their team in such a way.