'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.
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The two collided and McLeod, the Olympic champion, fell and was disqualified, impeding Ortega in the process.
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.”
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However that appeal was initially dismissed, sparking outrage among fans.
This, obviously, is completely unfair toward Ortega.
LRC's Robert Johnson suggested re-running the race, minus McLeod and Holloway (who no one was catching tonight) to determine silver & bronze. That's obviously a huge pain in the ass but might be fairest solution here.— Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) October 3, 2019
#orlandoortega has been robbed!!!@iaaforg must repeat the race, the podium Is fake and doesn't represent the best runners!!!! pic.twitter.com/8bcHCQLOjy
— yo_corredora (@yo_corredora) October 2, 2019
When the @IAAFDoha2019 steals a medal from Orlando Ortega.....shame!!! This final needs to be repeated!!!
— Isi the traveler (@Isithetraveler) October 2, 2019
Make it again!!!!! Really unfair race. Justice for Orlando Ortega!!!!!!
— Noely Berry (@BerryNoely) October 2, 2019
So cruel on Spain's Orlando Ortega in the 110m hurdles final. He was on course for a medal before Omar McLeod hit a hurdle, stumbled into his lane and obstructed him. pic.twitter.com/Mr19I6ODDX
— PJ Browne (@P_J_Browne) October 2, 2019
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
