SYDNEY (AP) — Australian weightlifting has been rocked by claims one of its top athletes demanded $5,000 to compete at an Olympic qualifying event, knowing Australia's chance of having a competitor at the London Games would be wrecked if he withdrew.

Australian Weightlifting Federation head Michael Keelan said on Wednesday that Cameroon-born Daniel Koum made the demand last week, 40 minutes before he was due to compete at the Oceania Championships in Samoa.

Australia had to finish among the top six teams at the championships to gain a single place in the men's competition at London. To do so depended on the cumulative performance of all lifters and Koum's withdrawal would have made that impossible.

Koum has denied the claims.