Watching it live I could not believe it. But I thought Tsegay was the initiator. I think it is either a no call or both runners are DQed. But then I think St. Pierre should have been DQed in the Olympic Trial heats as well.
Congratulations to Faith Kipyegon, her silver medal has been reinstated. Kenya’s team officials led by Milka Chemos, Bernard Ouma and Team Manager Peter Angwenyi successfully appealed and won her case
I guess all keyboard warriors that have never actually raced at a competitive level and don’t understand the minutia of racing go home devastated.
And precisely why as officials you don’t make idiotic emotional decisions so quickly as now you will completely devastate poor Battocletti by pushing her back to 4th….
Does anyone know the relevant rule and the specific language used?
My understanding is that USATF may have used the same language in its 2024 rulebook, but I am not sure.
USATF 2024 rule 163.4 states:
"Any competitor or participant responsible for jostling, running across, or obstructing another competitor or participant so as to impede his/her progress shall be liable to disqualification in that event. The Referee shall have the authority to order the race be re-held, excluding any disqualified competitor(s), for one, some or all competitors seriously affected by jostling or obstruction or allow such competitors to compete in a subsequent round of the race. Normally, such competitor(s) should have completed the event with bona fide effort. The Referee shall also have the authority to order the race be re-held or advance one, some or all competitors seriously affected by jostling or obstruction that is unintentional or caused otherwise than by a competitor if it is just and reasonable to do so. NOTE 1: Some factors to be considered when determining a disqualification include safety, equitable competition, severity of the infraction and resulting consequence. NOTE 2: Jostling should be understood as physical contact on one or more occasions with another competitor(s) that results in an unfair advantage or causes injury or harm to those competitors, or consequently, to another athlete(s)."
Based on the plain language of the rule (at least the USATF rule) the resulting consequence is a favor that should be considered. Furthermore, Kipyegon was clearly obstructed with her progress impeded. If the Olympic rules are similar, there should absolutely not have been a DQ. If watching dozens or replays and parsing the rulebook is necessary, all the athletes and fans are losers. The only winners are the officials and the overpaid bureaucrats that write and fight over these overly complex rules. Let the athletes run. Let the initial results stand. Let us all have some common sense.
Congratulations to Faith Kipyegon, her silver medal has been reinstated. Kenya’s team officials led by Milka Chemos, Bernard Ouma and Team Manager Peter Angwenyi successfully appealed and won her case
Just ruling. The 2nd best 5000 runner in the race today earns the silver. That’s the way it should be. Sadly, the whole controversy is robbing Chebet of the spotlight.
On the live feed, it looked like Tsegay cut in illegally. Runners need a stride before they cut in, that is the rule, yes? Rarely called, just like basketball, where the stars "travel" all the time. Kipyegon shoved back and got tangled.
If the judges are DQing Kipyegon, they should also DQ Tsegay. Both, or neither.
Does anyone know the relevant rule and the specific language used?
My understanding is that USATF may have used the same language in its 2024 rulebook, but I am not sure.
USATF 2024 rule 163.4 states:
"Any competitor or participant responsible for jostling, running across, or obstructing another competitor or participant so as to impede his/her progress shall be liable to disqualification in that event. The Referee shall have the authority to order the race be re-held, excluding any disqualified competitor(s), for one, some or all competitors seriously affected by jostling or obstruction or allow such competitors to compete in a subsequent round of the race. Normally, such competitor(s) should have completed the event with bona fide effort. The Referee shall also have the authority to order the race be re-held or advance one, some or all competitors seriously affected by jostling or obstruction that is unintentional or caused otherwise than by a competitor if it is just and reasonable to do so. NOTE 1: Some factors to be considered when determining a disqualification include safety, equitable competition, severity of the infraction and resulting consequence. NOTE 2: Jostling should be understood as physical contact on one or more occasions with another competitor(s) that results in an unfair advantage or causes injury or harm to those competitors, or consequently, to another athlete(s)."
There is a similar provision in the IAAF technical rules
Obstruction If an athlete is jostled or obstructed during an event so as to impede their progress, then: if the jostling or obstruction is considered unintentional or is caused otherwise than by an athlete, the Referee may, if they are of the opinion that an athlete (or their team) was seriously affected, in accordance with Rule 18.7 of the Competition Rules or Rule 8.4 of the Technical Rules, order that the race (for one, some or all of the athletes) be re-held or allow the affected athlete (or team) to compete in a subsequent round of the event; if another athlete is found by the Referee to be responsible for the jostling or obstruction, such athlete (or their team) shall be liable to disqualification from that event. The Referee may, if they are of the opinion that an athlete (or their team) was seriously affected, in accordance with Rule 18.7 of the Competition Rules or Rule 8.4 of the Technical Rules, order that the race (for one, some or all of the athletes) be re-held excluding any disqualified athlete (or team) or allow any affected athlete (or team) (other than any disqualified athlete or team) to compete in a subsequent round of the event. Book C – C2.1 30 World Athletics Technical Rules Note: In cases considered serious enough, Rule 18.5 of the Competition Rules and Rule 7.2 of the Technical Rules may also be applied.
In both cases Rules 17.2.1 and 17.2.2 of the Technical Rules, such athlete (or team) should normally have completed the event with bona fide effort.
Jostling should be understood as physical contact on one or more occasions with another athlete or athletes that results in an unfair advantage or causes injury or harm to them or, consequently, to another athlete or athletes.
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To me, the contact was initiated by Tsegay, and Kipyegon did not gain an unfair advantage or injure or harm Tsegay. This is not basketball where we are arguing a blocking/foul charge. Tsegay herself was not competitive in the race in the last 800 , and so there is no reason to disqualify either of them. The race ended the way it did because of the fitness and abilities of the athletes, not because of this contact or incident. There's no reason to change the results because of what happened here.
Tsegay cut in and hit Faith multiple times in the torso with her left elbow and arm. She was impeding her and then cut in too soon (while flopping). Faith was fending her off and trying to move forward. Look forward to hearing other runners react.
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