Advertisement

'Completely unfair': Athletics fans erupt over world championships 'disgrace'

The athletics world championships has been rocked by more controversy after a chaotic finish in the men’s hurdles final on Wednesday.

Spanish hurdler and 2016 Olympic silver medallist Orlando Ortega was in line for a medal when Jamaica's Omar McLeod veered into his lane.

‘INCREDIBLE’: Female star stuns athletics in never-before-seen moment

‘DID IT DELIBERATELY’: Disbelief over 'absolutely bizarre' drama in 400m semis

The two collided and McLeod, the Olympic champion, fell and was disqualified, impeding Ortega in the process.

Orland Ortega, pictured here being wiped out by Omar McLeod.
Orland Ortega was wiped out by Omar McLeod. Image: Getty

Ortega managed to finish but fell from third spot to fifth.

In the aftermath, Spain lodged an official protest and asked the IAAF for the final to be re-run or - failing that - for its athlete to get an extra bronze medal.

Spanish officials said Ortega's “progress was clearly impeded, making it impossible for him to maintain the medal position.”

[Join or create a 2019 Yahoo Fantasy Basketball league for free today]

Grant Holloway, pictured here crossing the finish line in the hurdles final.
Grant Holloway crosses the finish line ahead Orlando Ortega after Omar McLeod fell. (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

However that appeal was initially dismissed, sparking outrage among fans.

One fan labelled the controversy a 'disgrace'.
One fan labelled the controversy a 'disgrace'.

IAAF backflips, awards Ortega second bronze

But in a startling twist 24 hours later, the IAAF backflipped and agreed to award Ortega a bronze.

"In view of the obstruction by athlete Omar McLeod, which impeded the Spanish athlete, the jury accepted the appeal and directed that Spanish athlete Orlando Ortega also be awarded a bronze medal," the jury said on Thursday.

McLeod took full blame for the incident, apologising to Ortega.

However Ortega was still furious.

"I understand touches, I respect all my rivals the same, but if I’m beaten it will be because they are faster than me, I can’t accept this,” he reportedly said.

“A year of work for such a beautiful event. The IAAF has to do something, it's not the first time this happens."

Holloway wins gold for USA

Grant Holloway of the United States went on to claim gold.

Holloway slowed toward the end but held on to win in 13.10 seconds, 0.05 faster than 2015 champion Sergey Shubenkov, a Russian competing as a neutral athlete.

Pascal Martinot-Lagarde was third for France in 13.18.

After crossing the finish line, Holloway kept running around the turn in celebration before collapsing onto the back straight. He followed up with the “chomp" gesture of the University of Florida Gators.

with agencies