Nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis, a legendary sprinter and long jumper, has been denied a chance to run for the New Jersey state senate for failing to meet residency requirements.

New Jersey secretary of state Kim Guadagno ruled that Lewis cannot have his name on the Democratic Party primary ballot in June’s election because he has not met a four-year state residency requirement for candidates.

Lewis, who turns 50 on July 1, can appeal the decision.

Guadagno, a Republican, revealed Lewis said he filed taxes in California, owned a home and staffed business offices there and was registered to vote in California.

But Lewis, who grew up in New Jersey, has a New Jersey driving licence, has owned homes in the state since 2005 and has served as a volunteer high school athletics coach in his hometown, Willingboro, since 2007.

Lewis won four gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, winning the 100 and 200 metres, the 4x100 relay and the long jump.

He won the 100 and long jump in 1988 at Seoul, the long jump and 4x100 relay in Barcelona in 1992 and the long jump for the fourth time in a row at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.