Australia robbed of medal in 'absolute travesty' at Commonwealth Games

Australian cyclist Matt Glaetzer has been left shattered after he was controversially stripped of a bronze medal in the men's sprint at the Commonwealth Games.

Glaetzer looked to have recovered from a horror crash earlier at the Games, when he thought he'd beaten Scotland's Jack Carlin for the bronze medal on Sunday evening.

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Within moments of celebrating an against-the-odds triumph, the Aussie's joy turned to despair after officials revealed they were relegating him due to an incident in the bronze medal decider.

Race commissaires were seen deliberating by the side of the velodrome before ruling that the Aussie had challenged the Scot unfairly in the denouement to their side-by-side duel.

Former Commonwealth Games track cycling champion Kate Banks was furious with the judges' decision, calling it an "absolute travesty" against Glaetzer and Australia.

“I don’t agree. If they are going to be that picky they need every camera angle and they sure need a super zoom, Banks said.

“I’m having nothing of it. The any time limit contact is when Jack Carlin swung back up the track and even fact touched Matt Glaetzer. If anyone got impeded it was Matt Glaetzer. But the judges, you have to respect their decision. I’m not sure I respect this one to be honest.

“I want to because I think rules are rules but I think this is a pretty crappy decision. I’m devastated for Matt Glaetzer. I don’t see how the Australians will accept this and not feel robbed. This is an absolute travesty in my mind. I don’t even think Jack Carlin will be pleased at that turnaround. You want to win fair and square, and that is the most ridiculous relegation I have ever seen.

“I’m very devastated for Matt Glaetzer. And I think it is a poor interpretation.”

Other fans were quick to vent their anger and frustration on social media as well.

Matt Glaetzer bounces back from horror crash

Just 24 hours after a terrible crash at the Lee Valley velodrome which required medics to cut open his elbow to remove wood splinters, the battered Glaetzer was euphoric at what he thought was a bronze medal performance.

"You never can perform the same after a crash as bad as that. I had to dig so deep today and I'm shattered because I just gave it everything to try to get a result - and that's why this bronze feels so big for me," the exultant 29-year-old had said earlier, when still thinking he'd be on the podium.

"A crash like that takes a toll on your immune system, and your overall energy, your sleep and recovery. But you've got to suck it up. Whatever I had today, I was going to give everything.

"This is the one event at the Games I haven't won a medal in - and I finally did it, I finally cracked it - and I'm just so happy!

"I had my elbow cut open to get splinter out and the right side of my body is just burnt. Yeah, I'm really proud of this one - I was doubting if it was possible but this medal is big, I'm super proud."

Even as he spoke, though, the commissaires were in deep conversation, poring over the race replay, with the eventual decision to strip him of the medal coming some 60 minutes later.

"I was coming round the outside and he (Carlin) rode into me - I've no concerns," he said, when asked if he feared he might be relegated.

Australian officials made their protests, but to no avail.

"I'm just feeling for Matt - he's shown incredible resilience and has raced with just a lot of heart and pride and he certainly was deserving of the win," team performance boss Jesse Korf said.

Glaetzer's teammate Matt Richardson, who won gold, added: "Because of the crash, he had to patch himself up, come out and put his heart on the line. I do really feel bad for Matty."

with AAP

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