The world’s fastest man Usain Bolt was sensationally disqualified from the 100m final at the world championships last night, falling victim to a controversial new rule from the sport’s governing body.
Bolt, who with a world record of 9.58sec is the world record holder over 100m, is the star billing for the event and was an unbackable favourite to take the gold medal in the event.
But after jumping the starter’s gun early, Bolt was disqualified under the International Association of Athletics Federation’s (IAAF) new false-start ruling, instituted on January 1 this year, which disqualifies athletes for one false-start.
There had been no doubt that it was Bolt who had jumped early, and the Jamaican superstar immediately ripped off his singlet, knowing he had false-started, before dejectedly moving from the track.
The 30,000-strong crowd many of whom would have attended just to see the Jamaican star in action, were left stunned.
Fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake claimed the gold medal with a time of 9.93sec, but even the 21-year-old, who is widely tipped to be the eventually successor to Bolt’s crown, was visibly disappointed with Bolt’s exit.
Within hours of the race, the IAAF were under pressure to reconsider the controversial new ruling, with Kim Collins, who finished third in the race with a time of 10.03sec, leading the calls for the rule to be overturned.
Whatever the outcome, the IAAF will need to act swiftly on the issue, with the 2012 London Olympics less only 12 months away.
Rules are rules, but Olympic officials would be shuddering at the prospect of one of the star attractions of the Olympics being left to trudge from the area without even racing.
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