no brain wrote:
To be honest I'm sick and tired of these full time athletes parading around like they are superstars and living their lives on social media, they don't seem to realise how easy they have got it. It's the footballer mentality coming across in track and field, the big 'Here I am'... the facts are that guys with full time jobs were running as quick as these boys 30 years ago with little sponsorship and no funding. They need to realise how lucky they are and show some respect to the people who allow the events to happen, the volunteers. If he's doesn't this to a football referee he'd be looking at a lengthy ban and significant fine.
I see your point, but I don't think it applies much to Kyle Langford.
I don't know if you can call him 'lucky' after being robbed of a medal on home turf in the World Championships, something that's probably cost him tens of thousands at least in lost sponsorship and other future earnings.
Yes, if he had touched a footabller he would have been given a ban and more, but we know why that is - because football has a lot of thugs who scream in the face of refs every match. Also, as far as I'm aware, refs aren't allowed to touch players. Pretty sure if, for example, a ref was harassing and pulling the arm of Mo Salah at Anfield after sending him off before the match had even kicked off, absolute mayhem on and off the pitch would ensue.
This was an isolated incident and plenty of witnesses have stated that Kyle was being harassed and even borderline assaulted. If the British Athletics Federation suspends him it will be a disgrace. I can't remember them making any effort to get his bronze medal that was stolen from him by an EPO cheat returned.
He also seems a fairly down to Earth sort of guy rather than a big time Charlie, and popular with other athletes. He was very forgiving of Bett and just looked to the future. The bronze that should have been his would have been the first in a global outdoor championship by a Brit since Peter Elliott (unless I'm mistaken), and that at 20 years of age. And of course, a silver medalist at the Commonwealths less than a year later.
Notice that most of the people here defending Kyle have registered usernames, and most of the trolls attacking him haven't (probably the same person). Except 'ex-runner', that is - a guy who has admitted to doping and who defends Kenyan dopers.