And, most recently, it was at the Delhi Commonwealth Games where Australia's Sally Pearson was left in tears after an English team protest stripped her of a gold medal in the 100 metres.
Pearson was provisionally disqualified and England's Katherine Endacott, who was fourth, received a bronze medal after an appeal by Australia was rejected. The gold went to Nigeria's Osayemi Oludamola.
England protested after Pearson avoided disqualification for a false start on the second of three attempts to run the final. She and England's Laura Turner jumped the gun but referees awarded a red card only to Turner on the grounds that her reaction time was the quicker one. Turner refused to leave the track, insisting the noise in the stadium was so loud that she had not been able to hear the starter's orders. After a long argument, the referees relented and allowed her to race under protest.
Turner finished last, Pearson first. But England claimed that Pearson should also be disqualified as she appeared to move off the blocks before Turner. Pearson admitted in a post-race interview that she had 'twitched first'.
this
Users
Comment
article