BEIJING, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Australia's Channel Nine television network was Wednesday banned from the Beijing Olympics for a week after breaching rights regulations.

The broadcaster was banished for illegally filiming inside Olympic venues, Australian Associated Press reported.

In a letter to Nine's Olympic director, Gary Fenton, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the network would not be allowed back inside the Olympic precinct until next Thursday.

'The IOC takes this as a serious breach of the news access rules,' the letter said.

'The IOC therefore hereby informs you that the Nine Network crew will not be issued with Olympic Green Common Domain filming passes and will not be permitted to enter the Olympic Green Common Domain with equipment.

'This sanction is effective immediately and will end at 2400 hours on Wednesday 13 August.'

Rival Australian network, Channel Seven, which has invested millions of dollars in its Beijing coverage, protested after learning that Nine filmed inside the aquatic centre as the Australian team prepared to train on Monday.

It filed an official complaint with the IOC.