According to reports, the quartet of Luiz Altamir Lopes Melo, Andreas Emmanuel De Queiroz Mickosz, Matheus Paulo De Santana and Vitor Nascimento Guaraldo Santo were preparing to compete in the morning heats of the men's 4x100m medley relay before being unexpectedly told they were not registered to race.

Different sides of the story have been told with a Brazilian official, in Nanjing with the team, claiming the fault lies with the International Swimming Federation (FINA).

"An hour before the play-offs, a member of FINA has to collect the card in the heating area with the names of those who compete in the race," Marcio Latuf told newspaper  Lancenet.

"But then, this member of FINA was confused and was talking to another person who was with the Brazil kit, but that was not part of our team.

"There were confused with a gesture that person with kit Brazil would have done, and cut the relay of Brazil.

"The woman from FINA has not admitted the mistake."

A statement by the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) looked to make clear the situation which caused just four teams totake to heat one of the event, although China were disqualified for a false changeover.

"Brazil has not participated in the test of 4x100m medley of the Youth Olympic Games because they did not confirm the participation of athletes one hour before competition, as mandated by the rules of FINA," it said.

"The coach responsible for the team, and the country's sole representatives at the competition venue, was warming up with athletes and did not comply with the protocol required.

"As soon as he learned of the disqualification, the coach requested the presence of the Head of Mission of Brazil, Adriana Behar, on site to attempt to reverse the decision.

"But, as Brazil did not comply with regulation, there was nothing to do."

The Brazilian team had already won silver in the 4x100m mixed freestyle event in the pool ©Getty Images


The team only discovered that they would not be competing as they went to make their way to poolside, giving the swimmers quite the shock, according to De Queiroz Mickosz.

The 18-year-old was also upset over the negative comments fans had left him since the incident.

"We were [in] with a very big chance to win the race," he said.

"It weighed a little on everyone.

"Just talking about some things in Brazil that left us upset.

"They said we gave up, we did not want to swim.

"We are in the Olympics.

"It was pretty uncomfortable, but no way to control what people will say.

"It was a very annoying situation.

"Now is the mixed 4x100m medley, in which we also have chances to get a very good result."

The gold medal was eventually picked up by Russia after they swam 3min 38.02sec in the final.

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