Lin Dan, the No 2-ranked men's badminton singles player, defended his fellow Chinese badminton players who were disqualified for trying to lose, and chastised the sport’s federation for not anticipating that its new round-robin format would lead to this strategy.

Eight female badminton players, including China’s Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli, were disqualified from the Olympics on Wednesday. The players from China, South Korea and Indonesia were charged with not doing their best to win their respective matches, and of abusing or demeaning the sport.

Before the disqualifications, Lin said it was a shame that the Olympians were playing to lose. “This is definitely not within the Olympic spirit” he said.

But he also said the Badminton World Federation should take responsibility for the situation.

“We have played the elimination (format) the whole year before the London Olympics, but now it is suddenly changed into the group (round-robin) match. It does not make sense,” Lin said.

Lin also indicated he understood why the strategy was used.

"We athletes just follow the rules,” he said. “In the UK, would your football team want to meet Spain in the first round? Athletes think for themselves and have their own best interests at heart.”