By Cristina Hodgson • Published: 03 Oct 2019 • 10:43
SPAIN is asking for the men’s 110-meter hurdles final to be re-run or, failing that, for its athlete to get an extra bronze medal.
There is logic behind what may seem an unusual request at a Athletics World Championships.
Spanish hurdler Orlando Ortega was in contention for a medal, positioned third in the race, when Jamaica’s Omar McLeod clipped two hurdles and veered into the wrong lane, colliding with Spain’s Orlando Ortega, who had to shove McLeod out of his way to continue with the race making it impossible for him to maintain the medal position.
The IAAF says Spain argues that Ortega’s “progress was clearly impeded, making it impossible for him to maintain the medal position.”
Ortega finished fifth visibly frustrated with the occurrence.
Spain has put forward three possibilities to amend the unfortunate accident. For either a re-run of the race, or for Ortega to be allowed to race alone against the clock, a third possibility is for the IAAF to award a second bronze medal for this event to Ortega “as a fair sporting gesture.” Highlighting that Oregeta was third at the time of the incident.
The official decision is yet to be announced.
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