Olympics: US protest against men's 200m silver medallist

Thursday, 21 August 2008

BEIJING - The United States have lodged a protest against Churandy Martina the silver medallist in the Olympic Games men's 200m final which was won in world record time by Jamaica's Usain Bolt.

The US team, though, at the same time accepted the disqualification of Wallace Spearmon for running out of his lane having originally protested against the decision.

He was initially credited with having finished third in 19.95sec, but his place then went to defending Olympic champion and team-mate Shawn Crawford after his disqualification.

However, the Americans are claiming that Martina – fourth in the 100m behind another world record-breaking performance by Bolt – also stepped outside of his lane.

Should the 24-year-old be disqualified, it would deprive the Dutch Antilles of their first-ever Olympic track and field medal, and would see America's 100m bronze medallist Walter Dix promoted to third with Crawford bumped up to silver.