Canadian badminton duo forced to withdraw from Pan Am Games

Canadian men's doubles pair Adrian Liu, left, and Derrick Ng show off their bronze medals in badminton during the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011. (Nathan Denette / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

TORONTO -- Badminton players Adrian Liu and Derrick Ng were disqualified from the Pan American Games on Friday after violating international competition registration rules.

The doubles partners from Vancouver, who won men's doubles bronze at the 2011 Pan Am Games, were registered in more than one event in the same week of competition, which is against Badminton World Federation regulations.

The rule states that no player or pair will enter two federation-sanctioned competitions in the same week. Badminton Canada appealed the decision, arguing it was an "inadvertent" error.

The appeal was denied. Badminton Canada executive director Joe Morissette said in an email to The Canadian Press "our focus is on the athletes that are competing for Canada" and would not comment further.

Badminton competition at the Pan Am Games begins Saturday. The Games opened run through July 26.