U.S. men lose appeal of 4x100 disqualification, bronze medal
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The woes continue for Team USA’s 4×100 men’s relay team. An appeal of their disqualification in Friday night’s relay has been denied, according to the IAAF.
The men’s team had finished third, behind Usain Bolt-led Jamaica and Japan, but was disqualified because judges ruled Mike Rodgers, Team USA’s first runner, handed off the baton to Justin Gatlin outside of a designated 20-meter exchange zone. The Americans learned of the disqualification while they were still celebrating on the track; Canada, which finished fourth, thus received the bronze.
“The baton shall be passed within the takeover zone,” reads IAAF Rule 170.7. “The passing of the baton commences when it is first touched by the receiving athlete and is completed the moment it is in the hand of only the receiving athlete. In relation to the takeover zone, it is only the position of the baton which is decisive. Passing of the baton outside the takeover zone shall result in disqualification.” Replays were inconclusive but appeared to show Gatlin could have taken the baton before the exchange zone.
[Related: U.S. women’s 4×100 relay team sprints past Jamaica to capture Olympic gold]
This marks the ninth time since 1995 that American men have failed in the baton exchange at the Olympics and world championships, either through disqualification or dropping.
“It’s always something weird, stupid, simple mistakes that always cost us, and I don’t understand,” said Tyson Gay, who ran the third leg of the relay. “We had great sticks in practice, great everything, and something so simple. I can’t say anything but bad luck.”
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports and the author of EARNHARDT NATION, on sale now at Amazon or wherever books are sold. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.
