U.S. has men’s 4x100m relay appeal denied, Canada keeps bronze
The United States men's 4x100m relay team had its appeal rejected meaning that Canada will keep its Olympic bronze from Friday (photo: COC).
Canada will keep the men’s 4x100m relay bronze medal from Friday night.
The United States track and field association (USATF) filed an appeal after its team botched the handoff on the first exchange in last night’s relay race. The appeal was denied by the governing body for international athletics (IAAF).
The U.S. was disqualified under rule 170.7, which states: “The baton shall be passed within the takeover zone. 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.”
In Photos: https://t.co/ahZbXGx9GK | @AthleticsCanada wins men's 4x100m bronze in national record time. #TeamCanada pic.twitter.com/YUnWOUASls
— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) August 20, 2016
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On the first exchange, Mike Rodgers handed off to Justin Gatlin outside of the eligible handoff zone. The team initially crossed the line in third, with Canada fourth, but were later disqualified giving the Canadians the bronze.
RELATED: Usain Bolt completes the triple-triple, Canada wins bronze in 4×100 record.
“All protests and appeals rejected,” said Anna Legnani of the IAAF. “All results stand.”
Re: USATF appeal of 4X100 relay, per IAAF's Anna Legnani last night: “All protests and appeals rejected. All results stand.'' USA DQ.
— Tim Layden (@SITimLayden) August 20, 2016
The Canadian quartet of Akeem Haynes, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney and Andre De Grasse ran a national record of 37.64. That bettered the mark from 1996 when Donovan Bailey anchored the team to its iconic gold in Atlanta.
Race video
ICYMI | #JAM wins #Gold in the 4x100m relay, #CAN takes #Bronze after #USA was DQ'd https://t.co/y6vqnPaSOr https://t.co/qPlGXrIE7N
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 20, 2016
For De Grasse, the appeal rejection means he remains the only Canadian track and field athlete to have won a medal in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m at the same Olympic Games. He won bronze in the men’s 100m and silver in the men’s 200m, both behind Usain Bolt.
Bolt, 29, completed the triple-triple on Friday night by anchoring Jamaica to the men’s 4x100m win. He has won nine gold medals at the Olympics. Japan finished second in the men’s 4x100m on Friday.
The fortunate turn of events for Canada’s relay team comes four years after being disqualified for an infraction at the London Olympics. The team initially won bronze but got disqualified for stepping on the line between lanes on the final curve.
RELATED: Canadians react to record-setting, third-place run by 4x100m team.
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