video of Tola DQ surfaces from Peachtree

From the video, it looks like just before the finish line Boaz is going by, and Tola reaches out for a block/shove. Boaz slows and puts his palms up as if to say "wtf"?

As for the DQ, it seems harsh, but it's the only way to move Boaz up one spot as he deserves. Maybe the most fair result would be to switch Boaz and Tola.

To me, it looked like Boaz was actually slightly in front when the incident occurred. I thought Tola grabbed/pushed off of Boaz's left arm as he was coming past.

Either way, there was contact that impeded Boaz, as you can tell by how much he slowed after said contact occurred.

I am all for some good old fashioned banging and beating coming to the line, but this looked a little ridiculous here. I think they should give the position to Boaz. I have really no comment on the whole USATF policy on whether or not they had the proper amount of time to file their counter-protest just because I don't know all the details there.

Looks like he was trying to push Boaz into that big pylon thing. It pretty clearly interrupted Boaz's last kick and forced him to slow down.

the picture speak for itself.. and the excuse

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Hussein Makke, Tola’s agent, said the incident was an issue of inefficient running mechanics and that Tola did not deliberately elbow Cheboiywo.

“When you go to full sprint after 28 minutes of running, you’re fatigued, you’re tired,” Makke said. “Especially if you’re not efficient in the mechanics, your arms spin left and right.”

The USATF rule book states that “any competitor or participant jostling, running across, or obstructing another competitor or participant so as to impede his or her progress shall be liable to disqualification in that event.”

Makke said Tola claimed he was trying to sprint and was not aware of anyone beside him.

“Tola is not very efficient in his mechanics, so his arms were spinning left and right,” Makke said.

nice try guy wrote:

Makke said Tola claimed he was trying to sprint and was not aware of anyone beside him.

“Tola is not very efficient in his mechanics, so his arms were spinning left and right,” Makke said.

seriously, that was the biggest load of horse shit...

Obvious obstruction...good job on the DQ. As for the poster who suggested that Tola be simply dropped one place, that isn't how it works---you are either in our out. Even if this was just instinct kicking in, trying to avoid being passed, he broke the rule.

This does make Boaz look a little wimpy. It seems that he could have plowed through. Then again, Tola obviously disrupted his momentum.

wilco will love you, baby wrote:This does make Boaz look a little wimpy.

To be fair, Boaz is probably the smallest human being I've ever encountered. Definitely under 5'. I raced him once on the track several years ago, couldn't believe how small he was, even compared to the generally tiny frames of elite east African runners. If I'd wanted to obstruct him, I would have just sneezed in his general direction.

The video is not very clear.

This is a clear abstruction and Tola clearly deliberately tried pushing Boaz into the pylon. Sorry, but your arms don't just go from a normal running form then suddenly extend parallel to the ground with an extended elbow and then suddenly back to a normal running form. Also, if it does somehow just flail to the side like that it will not have enough force to nock a competitor back. He tried to push Boaz into the pillar and should not deny it, face the conseuences dude. I would like to add that Boaz did not fall back that much just because Tola pushed him, it also had to do with the fact that there was a pillar right there and therefore he was forced to slow down and readjust himself to avoid running into the pillar. This was probably the most unclassy move I have seen in a long time...well at least since Ramzi tested positive for steroids and President Clinton hooking up with Monica!

The video above does not show anything except Tola running a straight line.

Is there another video that's more clear?

I have seen runners with that arm action before, so it is not surprising or unusual.

Give me an old fashioned elbow to the ribs any day over someone on a drugs program

But what about the photograph? It clearly shows Tola's hand hitting Cheboiywo's chest, and Cheboiywo reacting as if hindered (and outraged).

Awesome evidence. J.R., how old are you? You need to get your eyes checked.

Tola blocked Boaz from out-kicking him... tremendously obvious, and not only video, there were close to 12 staffers on hand that witnessed the action.

However... wrote:

But what about the photograph? It clearly shows Tola's hand hitting Cheboiywo's chest, and Cheboiywo reacting as if hindered (and outraged).

The photo shows Tola running straight forward and looking straight forward. How would he even know Boaz was there.

It looks to me that it was his running form, nothing else, and Boaz happened to be there at that moment.

Some of the descriptions sound like Tola had turned sideways and was pushing Boaz into the crowd but that is not what is shown in the photo or the video.

Tree Frog wrote:

Awesome evidence. J.R., how old are you? You need to get your eyes checked.

Seriously. I don't think it could have been any more obvious.

As for J.R. I remember him awhile back claiming that the Chinese women and men from 1993 and 1997 weren't dopers or cheaters and that all of their performances were legit and that all of their lacking performances thereafter could be logically explained - but he forgot to explain the logic just like with this one.

That is not running mechanics, that is a block. Even if it were "running mechanics" wouldn't it still be considered hindering a runners advancement?

I am actually a good friend of Boaz and a big critic of the dirty tactics OFTEN used by Ethiopian runners (elbows, stepping on heels, etc.), but I do not think this video is conclusive at all. I'm not saying Tola shouldn't be DQ'd. I trust Boaz, I trust the officials who saw it in person, and I trust the other witnesses. I just tend to agree with J.R. that this particular piece of evidence doesn't stand alone.

That's the link to the video that I don't find clear enough (my poor eyes!). Could you guys post a link to the photos instead? Thanks!

- What's BS is Tola being DQ'd versus the penalty and not being allowed to counter-protest. Is this American or some kind of Ethiopian Kangaroo Court that puts people in jail w/no due process for life (Mamo Wolde). If anything, Boaz gets the nod and the extra $500.

- Brad Hudson's behind this one......