On Monday, August 5, silver Olympic medalist Faith Kipyegon went through an rollercoaster of emotions after facing a disqualification and subsequent reinstatement in the 5,000 meters race .
Kipyegon was disqualified under Rule TR17.2.2 (163.2 (b)) of the Olympics on jostling or obstruction (O/S) which states that any athlete who jostles, pushes, or obstructs another athlete during a race could be disqualified by the applicable referee on the report of an umpire.
Her disqualification highlighted the complexities of athletic adjudication. Initially disqualified for an alleged lane infringement, Kipyegon’s case demonstrates how appeals, new evidence, and procedural reviews can impact final decisions in competitive sports.
To that end, various circumstances may arise that aid in reinstating a medal and nullify a disqualification, only as was in the case of Kipyegon:
Appeal and Review
An athlete or team can appeal a disqualification, and if a governing body or independent arbitrator determines that the disqualification was unfair or based on inaccurate information, it may be reversed. In Kipyegon’s case, the Athletics Kenya team appealed her disaquaification and her medal was reinstated.
New Evidence
If new evidence emerges that absolves the athlete or team of the disqualification reasons, it may lead to their reinstatement. The evidence in Kipyegon’s case absolved her from disqualification as it was determined that Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay cut into her lane, causing overcrowding and subsequently Kipyegon gave her a little shove to make space.
Interference:
If it is proven that an athlete or team was unfairly hindered or obstructed by another competitor or external factor, it can lead to their reinstatement.
Rule Changes
A change or reinterpretation of the rules that caused the disqualification might retroactively absolve the athlete or team’s actions.
Administrative Errors
If an administrative error or procedural mistake is discovered during the disqualification process, it may lead to reinstatement.
Testing Errors
In doping cases, reinstatement can be considered if the testing process is found to be flawed or if the results are proven to be false positives. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Belarusian athlete Andrei Mikhnevich’s bronze medal was reinstated owing to procedural issues in the testing process.
Mitigating Circumstances
Reinstatement may be granted if compelling mitigating circumstances that were not considered during the initial disqualification process are later acknowledged.
Technical Faults
If a technical fault or equipment failure beyond the athlete’s or team’s control caused the disqualification, reinstatement might occur.
Clarification of Rules
Reinstatement may occur if the disqualification was based on an ambiguous rule that is subsequently clarified in the athlete’s or team’s favor.
Legal Intervention
A court or sports arbitration tribunal is legally empowered to reverse a disqualification.
The specifics of the reinstatement process vary depending on the sport’s governing body and its regulations, including the procedures for submitting appeals, the type of evidence required, and the criteria for evaluating claims. Each governing body may have its own guidelines and timelines for reviewing cases and making decisions on reinstatement.
