Eric Cray was also disqualified for a false start in the heats of the men's 400m hurdles at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London. (AFP)

CAPAS CITY—The Philippines’ athletics team suffered a setback on Sunday after Olympian Eric Cray was disqualified from the 100-meter sprint competition due to false starts in the preliminary heats.

Cray was booted out after moving ahead of the gun start twice in Heat 1 at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium here.

The 31-year-old Cray said he did not hear the starting gun because of the noise from the crowd.

Cray won the 100m gold in the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore but settled for the silver two years later in Kuala Lumpur behind Khairul Hafiz Jantan.

Filipino Anfernee Lopena was a saving grace for the nationals as he qualified for the finals slated later. He clocked 10.61 seconds behind Lac bandit Chuangchai of Thailand (10.50).

Cray had a similar disqualification incident during the 2017 IAAF world championships in London.