Schwazer, 27, had been due to compete Saturday in the men's 50-kilometer race walk.

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Italy's Olympic 50km race walk champion Alex Schwazer is also out of the Games after failing a drugs test.

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On July 30, antidoping authorities administered a surprise test, Mr. Schwazer said, and the test yielded a positive result.

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Mr. Schwazer won a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, setting an Olympic record in the 50-kilometer race walk.

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Mr. Schwazer said that in mid-July he underwent what he thought was his final antidoping test before the London Games.

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Schwazer broke the Olympic record in Beijing when he stormed to gold but will not travel to London to defend his title.

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Mr. Schwazer also said he never received banned substances from Dr. Ferrari.

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Dario Bolognesi, a lawyer for Dr. Ferrari, confirmed Mr. Schwazer's account, adding that Dr. Ferrari has denied allegations he helped athletes get performance-enhancing drugs.

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Italy's Olympic committee on Monday announced Mr. Schwazer's suspension from competition.

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News of Mr. Schwazer's use of performance-enhancing drugs stunned Italy, where many people had been counting on the race walker to lift the nation's medal count.

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Mr. Schwazer said Wednesday he struggled to cope with the pressures of his newfound stardom in the wake of Beijing, particularly the physical demands of competing more often in an endurance sport he says he didn't enjoy.

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