Robles was stripped of his first-place finish in the hurdles in South Korea on Monday after judges upheld an appeal claiming he held back Chinese runner Liu Xiang.

The ruling meant the gold medal was handed to American Jason Richardson, with Liu second and British athlete Andrew Turner given bronze.

The championships in Daegu have been marked by several high-profile disqualifications. Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt was shown the red card for false-starting in the 100, and Olympic 400 champion Christine Ohuruogu of Britain was booted out for a flier in her heat.

"It's very controversial that these things happen in an athletics world championships, lamentably it was my turn to lose out," Robles said.

The Cuban, gold medalist in the 110-meter hurdles in the 2008 Olympics, said jostling was common in his event.

After the race a magnanimous Liu said: "I have some regrets. In the last moment he simply hit me once, hit me twice, but I blame nobody, this is the competition, it is a game and we should still enjoy the happiness of such a competition."

"All athletes have to face these kinds of high-low ups and downs. I'm not a child, and I'm quite stable mentally, therefore I will look ahead." - 30 Aug 2011

No cigar: Dayron Robles (in white) makes contact with Liu Xiang and is later disqualified Photo: GETTY IMAGES