The 36-year-old was penalised for overtaking the derny before it pulled off the track. Azizulhasni’s team is believed to be appealing against the disqualification.

Malaysia’s hopes now rest on Shah Firdaus Sahrom who finished third in heat 5 but was relegated and issued a warning after riding outside the designated racing line. However, he will make it to the repechages, which he has to win in order to advance to the quarter finals.

Malaysia was banking on Azizulhasni, known as the Pocket Rocketman, to deliver its first Olympic gold, with the Paris Games expected to be his last.

He had dropped out of the sprint event in the round of sixteen on Thursday, saying he was told by his coach John Beasley to save his energy for the keirin event.

Australia’s Matthew Glaetzer (9.876s) and Jeffrey Hoogland (9.887s) of the Netherlands qualified for the keirin quarter-finals by finishing as the top pair in heat 1.