THE was drama tonight at the IAAF World Athletics Championships when Scotland’s Lynsey Sharp was initially disqualified and then reinstated in the 800m.
The 27-year-old was kicked out after pushing Charlene Lipsey when their arms interlocked on the line in the semi-final to initially deny her the chance of racing in Sunday's final.
But British Athletics' appeal was upheld and Sharp, who was taken away in tears, will run in the final as a fastest loser.
Her time of one minute 59.47 seconds was fast enough but Sharp faced an anxious wait after being in breach of rule 163.2.
It seemed a particularly strange decision because any contact was more likely to hinder the former European rival as both registered times that would have earned them places in the final as fastest losers
Sharp was clearly shocked when told the verdict almost immediately after the race, indicating that she felt that they had been engaged in no more than the usual physicality of middle distance racing.
“As far as I’m concerned, I can’t remember anything different to any other race I’ve been in. I can’t remember doing anything,” said the former European champion.
“There have definitely been times I’ve been affected more than I affected anyone in that race. I’ll definitely have to go back and look at it with British Athletics.
“I’ve been in a lot of scrappy races this year and would put my hands up and say I did something, but I honestly can’t remember anything.
“She (Lipsey) just said she got hit a couple of times but so did I. I got kicked in the heats - it’s part of middle distance running.
“Coming into the finish I was definitely reaching for the line I was so desperate to get there I would have dived across the line, I was ready to hit the floor, I didn’t intentionally run into her or hit her arm or anything.”
Adelle Tracey failed to qualify, despite running a personal best of two minutes 00.26 seconds, after she came sixth in the first heat, while Shelayna Oskan-Clarke bowed out.
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