The Cuban high jumper, Javier Sotomayor, has failed a drugs test at the Pan American games in Canada and has been stripped of the gold medal he won on Friday.

The former Olympic champion, who holds the high jump world record, tested positive for cocaine.

He denied any wrongdoing and Cuban officials in Canada said he'd been the victim of sabotage and manipulation.

They said protestors and talent scouts had constantly harassed Cuban athletes -- eight defected during the games.

Sotomayor is the third athlete to have tested positive for drugs at the Pan American games in the last few days. Other athletes who've recently failed tests elsewhere include the American and British sprinters, Dennis Mitchell and Linford Christie.