Rio Olympics 2016: Gymnast kicked out of Rio after boozy night out

Yuri Van Gelder of the Netherlands was kicked out of the Rio Olympics. Photo / Getty

A Dutch gymnast has been booted from the Rio Olympics after a night out drinking alcohol a day before he was due to compete in the team gymnastic final.

Yuri van Gelder, nicknamed the 'Lord of the Rings', was sent home from Rio by the Netherlands team after he left the Olympic village for a night on the town on Saturday night, returning in the the early hours on Sunday morning.

Netherlands chef de mission Maurits Hendriks issued a statement which said the decision to send van Gelder home was "very difficult".

"It's terrible for Yuri, but this kind of behaviour is unacceptable.

"In sports terms this is a disaster, but we had no other choice given the violation of our values."

In a statement on his website, van Gelder said he would not be commenting on his expulsion.

"Yuri can't and doesn't want to respond to the situation. He wants to process the events in a closed environment and will make a statement after that. When he will do that, is not yet clear."

In 2009 van Gelder was suspended for taking cocaine three days before the national championships, and he missed out on selection for the London Olympics due to a positive test for cocaine.