Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Read more
The USA’s Rai Benjamin was temporarily disqualified minutes after winning the gold medal in a controversial men’s 400m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The 28-year-old American knocked over the final hurdle, before coming home in first with a blazing time of 46.52secs.
But his collision on the last hurdle moved it into the path of Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel, who was initially fourth and just outside of the medals, handing the Olympic champion a disqualification for several minutes before the decision was reversed and he was reinstated as champion.
open image in gallery
Rai Benjamin of the U.S. celebrates after winning the men’s 400m hurdles final (REUTERS)
The controversial hit temporarily moved Brazilian Alison Dos Santos up to the gold and Qatar’s Ismail Doudai Abakar promoted to silver, while Norway’s race favourite Karsten Warholm was upset with a disappointing run to finish fifth initially.
“Ironically we were sat in the elimination chairs,” Benjamin said afterwards. “Samba goes, ‘where are our medals?’ Dos Santos said, ‘I think there’s been a DQ’. I was like, ‘damn, who got DQ’d?’ He then said, ‘I think it might be you.’
“Then the whole shift happened, I was trying to control my emotions, you work so hard to get here, go through an entire season, finally win, now you’re getting DQ’d because of hurdle 10. I was trying to work out what happened and what the rule was. I went to speak to some people in the crowd to figure out what happened.
“You have to make an honest attempt to clear the hurdle. I wish I would’ve cleared it, the time would’ve been fast had I not. I think had the hurdle impeded somebody else, yes, but I hit the hurdle and it stood back up. I’m not sure what the official saw. It wasn’t intentional, obviously.”
“That seems insane, he didn’t hit it on purpose, it didn’t affect the standings of the race, I think it’s very unfair,” said Jessica Ennis-Hill at the time on BBC Sport.
While Colin Jackson added: “That trail leg has got to go over the barrier completely.”
open image in gallery
Rai Benjamin celebrates with USA team-mate Jasmine Jones (REUTERS)
Benjamin was seen celebrating long after his race, and then continued to celebrate after the women’s 400m hurdles, which was won by the Netherlands’ Femke Bol, with American Jasmine Jones in silver.
Nigeria’s Nathaniel had been upgraded to bronze after Benjamin’s initial disqualification, before being pushed back down to fourth place when the American was reinstated to first place.
Benjamin had such a gap on 2022 world champion Dos Santos that he won by .32 seconds despite knocking over the last barrier.
Norway’s Warholm, who had been tipped to challenge Benjamin for gold, described his race as a “disaster”.
“I had something happen when I got out of the block, like a little strain in my left thigh,” said Warholm.
“I don’t know if it’s a hamstring or knee. Trying to hurdle with it wasn’t good. I also crashed the third hurdle. I tried to push but it was just a terrible race.”