Polish swimmer Konrad Czerniak did not compete in the qualifying round of the 100m freestyle competition at the Rio Olympics due to an alleged clerical error.

“I have been training swimming for 20 years, I represent Poland and I have dedicated almost all of my life to compete with the best. My chance of taking part in the Olympics was snatched away from me due to an ‘oversight’, a ‘mistake’ by the Polish Swimming Federation,” Czerniak wrote in a post on social media.

The 27-year-old swimmer said that he received this information from his sister just minutes before he was expected to hit the water.

Czerniak is a three-time butterfly-style medalist at the world championships: he took silver in the 100m in 2011, bronze in 100m in 2013 and the bronze in the 50m in 2015.

It was not immediately evident what the clerical error was.

Czerniak will compete on Thursday in the men's 100m butterfly.

(rg)