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IAAF World Indoor Championships Birmingham 2018

Drew Windle's 800m Silver Reinstated After DQ Drama At IAAF World Indoors

Drew Windle's 800m Silver Reinstated After DQ Drama At IAAF World Indoors

Drew Windle is the latest athlete to fall victim to disqualification drama at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

Mar 3, 2018 by Jennifer Zahn
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UPDATE (3:11 PM CT):

Drew Windle's silver medal in the 800m has been reinstated by the IAAF Jury of Appeals! Congratulations, Drew!!!

Here are the final results:

POSATHLETECOUNTRYMARK
1Adam KSZCZOTPOL1:47.47
2Drew WINDLEUSA1:47.99
3Saúl ORDÓÑEZESP1:48.01
4Elliot GILESGBR1:48.22
5Álvaro DE ARRIBAESP1:48.51
6Mostafa SMAILIMAR1:48.75

And here is the IAAF Jury of Appeals report:

Saturday 3 March 2018

JURY OF APPEAL DECISION

Event: 800m Men FINAL

An appeal was presented by the US team after the 800m Men Final, against the disqualification of their athlete Drew WINDLE, who had originally crossed the line in second place.

Windle was disqualified under Rule 163.2 (Obstruction)

The Jury of Appeal examined the video evidence and accepted the appeal. The original result stands, with Drew Windle reinstated in second place.

RULE 163 (The Race)
Obstruction
2. If an athlete is jostled or obstructed during an event so as to impede his progress, then: (a) if the jostling or obstruction is considered unintentional or is caused otherwise than by an athlete, the Referee may, if he is of the opinion that an athlete (or his team) was seriously affected, in accordance with Rule 125.7 or Rule 146.4, order that the race (for one, some or all of the athletes) be re-held or allow the affected athlete (or team) to compete in a subsequent round of the event; (b) if another athlete is found by the Referee to be responsible for the jostling or obstruction, such athlete (or his team) shall be liable to disqualification from that event. The Referee may, if he is of the opinion that an athlete (or his team) was seriously affected, in accordance with Rule 125.7 or Rule 146.4, order that the race (for one, some or all of the athletes) be re-held excluding any disqualified athlete (or team) or allow any affected athlete (or team) (other than any disqualified athlete or team) to compete in a subsequent round of the event. Note: In cases considered serious enough, Rules 125.5 and 145.2 may also be applied. In both cases Rule 163.2(a) and (b), such athlete (or team) should normally have completed the event with bona fide effort

IAAF

Original article (2:15 PM CT):

Drew Windle is the latest athlete to fall victim to disqualification drama at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

In today's chippy men's 800m final, Windle finished second to earn his first medal on the world stage, but within minutes, he was stripped of silver as IAAF officials cited Rule No. 163.2 (b) for obstruction.

The officials flagged Windle for contact with Adam Kszczot, but there was a lot of physicality throughout the race. Elliot Giles of Great Britain, who was upgraded to bronze after Windle's disqualification, also ended up jostling with Windle and other competitors as the men jockeyed for position on the steeply banked track.

"It was a very physical race," Windle said. "I have had only two international races but this was my first experience with a race like this."

Watch Windle's full post-race interview here:

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Windle is one of 24 athletes who have been disqualified in the past few days at the championships in Birmingham, U.K. Friday's morning session ended with 12 men disqualified, including Olympic silver medalist Paul Chelimo of the United States, whose third-place finish didn't hold up after he stepped on the inside of the rail. 

American track and field fans are now waiting with bated breath to see if Windle will be reinstated. In the meantime, they're sounding off on social media: