Kenya's Ezekiel Kemboi career ended disastrously after he was disqualified from the Olympic Games 3,000m steeplechase onWednesdayfor stepping off the track.
His initial bronze medal was subsequently handed to Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi who was promoted from position four.
Kemboi came to Rio as the overwhelming favourite but left empty handed. The two-time Olympic champion had finished third inWednesday's race won by his compatriot Conseslus Kipruto.
Mekhissi finished fourth but appealed against Kemboi's action, resulting in the disqualification and his own promotion.
"A protest was presented by the French team after the 3000m steeplechase men final against Kenyan athlete Ezekiel Kemboi ... claiming he had stepped off the track," said an IAAF statement.
An appeal jury "met and examined the video of the race, confirming that Kemboi, after clearing a water jump, had stepped outside the track on the curved part before the home straight."
Under race rules, runners cannot step off the inside edge of the track when running around bends.
Read: Golden Kipruto