The U.S. protest in the men's 4x100 meter relay has been rejected, and Canada will keep the bronze medal, The Associated Press reported.

The Americans were disqualified from the final, won by Jamaica, for an illegal baton exchange in the first passing zone Friday night.

The United States finished third, but minutes later, the team was disqualified, and the U.S. protested.

Officials ruled Saturday that Mike Rodgers handed the stick to Justin Gatlin before it reached the 20-meter zone.

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Slow-motion video on the NBC broadcast appeared to show the moment where Gatlin may have taken the baton before the yellow line that starts the exchange zone.

According to IAAF Rule 170.7, "the baton shall be passed within the takeover zone. The passing of the baton commences when it is first touched by the receiving athlete and is completed the moment it is in the hand of only the receiving athlete. In relation to the takeover zone, it is only the position of the baton which is decisive. Passing of the baton outside the takeover zone shall result in disqualification."

The USATF filed an appeal following the disqualification.

It marked the ninth time since 1995 that the U.S. men have either been disqualified or failed to finish the 4x100 at world championships or the Olympics.

“I see him throwing his hand back,” Rodgers said of Gatlin while watching the replay, "but I see when he has possession of the stick, he’s inside the zone. … It’s not a DQ.”

“Obviously I can’t see behind me,” Gatlin said. “I felt like it was a clean exchange going through the zone.”