Athletics chiefs to discuss false start rule after Bolt jumps gun

Usain Bolt’s quest to become an athletics legend took a stunning blow yesterday when the triple Olympic champion was disqualified from the 100 metres final at the World Championships for a false start.

Defending champion Bolt had looked in brilliant form in the heats and semi-final, ironically feeling all the hard work he had done on his start had finally paid off.

But the 25-year-old Jamaican star got it all wrong in spectacular fashion in Daegu, springing from his blocks well before the gun (his reaction time was -0.104 seconds) and pulling his running vest off in despair, instantly realising he would be disqualified.

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While a mortified Bolt was still slapping a wall near the start in frustration, a stunned stadium saw 21-year-old compatriot Yohan Blake power to the title in 9.92 seconds, with American Walter Dix taking silver and veteran Kim Collins the bronze.

It later emerged that the controversial false-start rule which saw Bolt disqualified will be discussed by the sport’s governing body next Sunday.

Rule 162.7, which was introduced for the start of the 2010 season, states: “An athlete, after assuming a full and final set position, shall not commence his start until after receiving the report of the gun.

“If, in the judgement of the starter or recallers, he does so any earlier, it shall be deemed a false start. Except in combined events, any athlete responsible for a false start shall be disqualified.”

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From 2003, the rules stated that after any false start, all athletes were warned. Any subsequent false start led to immediate disqualification. Before then, disqualification occurred only after the same athlete false-started twice.

Asked about the rule being changed, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) director of communications Nick Davies said: “It’s always possible, the council has the power to change rules at meets two or three times a year, the next being here on Sunday.

“In extraordinary cases, the IAAF council has the right to make interim changes to technical rules, pending official approval by IAAF Congress. There’s no doubt it will be on the table.”

While the IAAF expressed their disappointment that Bolt had been disqualified, they insisted it had not devalued the event and the rules had to be applied to everyone.

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“It’s not showbusiness, we are not here to make a star performer perform,” Davies added.

“You don’t start changing things because it’s a certain athlete.

“We are very disappointed with Usain Bolt false-starting but on the other hand, the rules are the rules, they are the same for every athlete and we have to apply them.

“It’s important to maintain the integrity and credibility of the sport and it’s based on rules. He will be back in the 200m and 4x100m and he would be the first to admit he did false start, it was blatant.

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“Others have false started and lost out and you just have to get on with it. It’s important not to lose sight of the fact that everyone has to follow the same rules. You don’t say ‘It’s Usain Bolt so the rules can be twisted’.”

Bolt was nowhere to be found after the race, while training partner Blake – who did not even compete in the last World Championships in Berlin after testing positive for a stimulant and later receiving a three-month ban – said: “I can’t find words to explain it.

“I feel like I want to cry. Trust me, I’ve been praying for this moment for my whole life.

“I felt sorry for Usain, my training partner. I had to take it out in the race for him. When he did the false start I was so surprised because we had been talking about that in training – he false starts a lot – and now it happens.

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“I knew I would challenge Bolt one day but I did not expect it today. I am traumatised and have mixed feelings, I am very sad for Usain but at the same time I am enjoying this very much.”

Silver medallist Dix – who just overhauled Collins on the line to finish 0.01s ahead of the 35-year-old – said of Bolt’s disqualification: “I couldn’t believe it, it’s kind of surreal.

“I didn’t think they were going to kick him out. It’s pretty hard to kick Usain out of the race.”

Collins added: “The champion is out, you have to take advantage of that. If the IAAF feel that is the right way to go for TV rights and everything, the rule will stay.

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“As much as I want to be on the podium, tonight is a sad night for athletics.”

The new rule has not been universally popular, with former world champion Tyson Gay proving eerily accurate when he predicted in June 2010: “If it happened at the Olympics or World Championships next year...without Usain Bolt the race is going to have an asterisk to the side. It just doesn’t make sense.”

And another former world champion, Trinidad’s Ato Boldon, wrote on Twitter: “That sound you hear is the rules committee wondering how they could have ruined a whole meet with a rule no one wanted.”

Remarkably, Bolt was the second sprinter to get disqualified in the 100m, with Britain’s Dwain Chambers committing a false start in the first semi-final.

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“It hasn’t really sunk in yet but I’ve got to keep my thoughts and frustrations to myself at the moment,” said Chambers, whose false start was barely noticeable compared to Bolt’s.

“Obviously the gun went and I moved. It’s a bit unfortunate. The rules are the rules and I false started. Today I was optimistic about my chances but I was up against guys on paper faster than me so I would have had to run beyond my best to qualify.”

Asked about his future plans with his Olympic ban ruling him out of the London Games next year, the 33-year-old added: “It’s too soon to make any decisions on my current situation.”