Bronze Medalist In 3000m Steeplechase, Ezekiel Kemboi, Disqualified

Kenyan steeplechase athlete, Ezekiel Kemboi, has been disqualified shortly after earning his bronze medal. After the race Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad of France filed a formal complaint. In the appeal he said that Kemboi committed a lane violation that was upheld by the International Association of Athletics Federation. IAAF found Kemboi was guilty of “infringement of the inside border,” according to USA Today.

Kemboi’s disqualification moves Mekhissi-Benebbad from fourth place to a bronze medal.

“When one makes the road less, this is not the (3000m steeplechase),” Mekhissi-Benebbad said.

Kemboi’s violation didn’t determine how much time it granted him. He finished with a time of 8:08.47 more than three seconds faster than the fourth place time.

Kemboi won gold in Athens and London and announced his retirement right after the race, but later rescinded his statement. He said he would have retired had he kept his bronze medal but he hopes to be back at the World Championships in London next year. Kemboi has won the World title a record of four times.

“I had opted to retire right after the Olympics only if I had come home with this medal…Now I feel that I have to bring back this medal not by protesting again but right on track,” said Kemboi according to the Daily Nation.

The video replays of the race show that after the water jump Kemboi stepped on the inner right lane after being pushed by another athlete. Team Kenya tried refuting the French appeal, but Olympic officials upheld the appeal. The race rules state the runners cannot step off the inside edges of the track when running around bends and the water jump is located at the bend on the track.

Kenyan Conseslus Kipruto won gold and finished with a time of 8:03.28 which is an Olympic record. USA’s Evan Jager won silver and was the first American male to medal in the event since the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

BEIJING, CHINA – AUGUST 24: Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya celebrates after winning gold in the Men’s 3000 metres steeplechase final during day three of the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015 at Beijing National Stadium on August 24, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Article by Lindsey Horsting