Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria sits on the track in the Men's 1 500m semifinal on day nine of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Makhloufi, who won his 1 500m semifinal in 3:42.24, had been forced to run in the two lap race after his team failed to withdraw him from it by Sunday's deadline, an International Association of Athletics Federation's spokesperson said on Monday.
The 24-year-old lined up at the start of heat five at the Olympic stadium on Monday morning but was already well behind the field at the start of the back straight before stopping running completely another 100m into the race and wandering back across the infield past the pole vault area.
"The referee considered that he had not provided a bona fide effort and decided to exclude him from participation in all further events in the competition," read an IAAF statement.
Makhloufi stormed past Olympic and world champion Asbel Kiprop in a stunning to finish to his 1 500m heat on Sunday, marking him out as a title contender.
The IAAF spokesperson said he could be reinstated for Tuesday's 1 500m final if he could get a medical certificate from a local doctor.
The exclusion is the latest in a string of incidents at the Games where athletes have not tried to win in order to manipulate results or draws in their ultimate favour. – Reuters