American Bobby Martinez has been disqualified from the Quiksilver Pro New York after heavily criticising the Association of Surfing Professionals in an interview.
Martinez, competing for the last time before retiring, unleashed in an expletive-laden interview in which he said he could not wait to get off the "dumb tour".
He'd just beaten Australia's Bede Durbidge in round two of the event and was due to face world No.1 Kelly Slater in round three.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Mick Fanning and Owen Wright are among the Australians to post wins today.
Competition has resumed in difficult, windy conditions on Long Island.
Fanning earlier beat American Balaram Stack in the opening sudden-death heat of round two.
World title contenders Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson, Taj Burrow and Josh Kerr had already made the third round by winning their opening heats.
In his opening round Kerr, of Coolangatta in Queensland, posted the highest single wave score (9.50) as well as the highest total heat score (18.57) of the day, defeating Adriano DeSouza of Brazil and fellow Australian Kai Otto, advancing him directly into round three.
