The Moroccan-born athlete was due to compete in the men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase event at Rio 2016, but the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and the Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL) have now ruled him out.

“CONI, in agreement with FIDAL, has ruled out the inclusion of Rio Olympic Games, the athlete Jamel Chatbi,” a CONI statement read.

“It informed the membership he has missed the third doping control last year.”

Chatbi has previously served a three-year suspension from competition from 2009 to 2012, having tested positive for clenbuterol at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships.

The 32-year-old had claimed a gold medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2009 Mediterranean Games ahead of his suspension.

His removal from the Italian Olympic team has seen their delegation drop to 308.

Chatbi joins race walker Alex Schwazer in being removed from the Italian athletics team as a result of doping offences.

Schwazer, the Beijing 2008 Olympic 50 kilometre champion, is facing a life ban from the sport after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs for the second time in his career.

But, while he admitted taking erythropoietin after testing positive the first time before London 2012, the 31-year-old claims he is innocent this time.

Schwazer tested positive for the anabolic steroid testosterone following re-analysis of a urine sample taken in January and saw an appeal turned down by the Court of Arbitration for Sport earlier this month.

He claims the test was either tampered with or deliberately rigged to discredit him.