N.J.'s Robby Andrews, who was disqualified for running off the track in his semifinal heat of the Olympic men's 1,500, had his appeal for reinstatement int the final denied
The appeal by USA Track and Field to overturn the disqualification to New Jersey's Robby Andrews in the men's 1500-meter semifinals was denied, USATF announced late Thursday night.
UPDATE: #USATF filed an appeal regarding the disqualification of @RA_Andrews in his 1500m semi.
— USATF (@usatf) August 19, 2016
Our appeal was denied. #Rio2016
The 25-year-old Andrews, after some apparent contact with Mekonnen Gebremedhin of Ethiopia, took 2 steps off the track as he neared the finish line in his semifinal heat earlier on Thursday night at Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Andrews, a 2009 graduate of N.J.'s Manalapan High School, got back on the track quickly and crossed the line in fifth place in 3:40.25 (the top 5 finishers automatically advance to the final). Originally it appeared that Andrews had avoided disaster and advanced, but after the race Andrews was disqualified under rule 163.4, which means it was ruled he gained a "material advantage" by going off the track.
Here is @iaaforg Rule 163.4 under which Robby Andrews was DQ'd. They judged that he gained a "material advantage." pic.twitter.com/dSwBb52ALt
— David Monti (@d9monti) August 19, 2016
After the race and before he found out he was DQ'd, Andrews was asked if he committed an infraction, and he indicated that he was knocked off the track by Gebremedhin.
"I asked if there was a flag and they said that there wasn’t,'' Andrews said in a USATF press release. "I would have tripped him if I tried to go outside, and I just stayed inside and he bumped me off of the track. I don’t think it will be any issue.”
Andrews said he shouldn't have ever been on the inside to begin with.
“I should have stayed outside with 200 to go,'' he said. "I was running wide the whole race, and it’s a stupid mistake. But I felt great and I closed well.”
Lots of past U.S. track stars took to twitter to defend Andrews, including American mile record holder Alan Webb.
Both @RA_Andrews chest and hips have past Mekonnen before he is forced off the track. @usatf pic.twitter.com/qioxY8JgCK
— Alan Webb (@alan_webb1) August 19, 2016
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— gabriele grunewald (@gg_runs) August 19, 2016
This is interesting. Was @RA_Andrews unfairly DQ'd? https://t.co/g20K7Rt82W
— Kara Goucher (@karagoucher) August 19, 2016