Olympic hammer throw bronze medalist Koji Murofushi returned to Japan on Wednesday and denied he had broken any rules in his bid for election to the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission.
"I didn't break a single rule," said Murofushi, who collected the most votes among competitors in athletics, but had his election voided by the IOC, which said it had twice warned him over campaign violations.
"The Japan Olympic Committee and the IOC interpreted the rules differently. The IOC and JOC are discussing it," he said.
The two-time Olympic medalist said he would not take the matter to the Court Of Arbitration for Sport.
"I can't believe it's that big a deal," he said.