No sympathy for Oz sprinter Pearson’s Delhi CWG 100metre gold medal disqualification
By ANISaturday, October 9, 2010
NEW DELHI - Australian track and field athlete Sally Pearson’s rivals have offered little by way of sympathy over her disqualification in Thursday’s Delhi Commonwealth Games 100metre race.
Pearson had crossed the line first ahead of Nigeria’s Osayemi Oludamola (11.32) and Natasha Mayers of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (11.37), with England’s Katherine Endacott fourth.
However, the 2008 Beijing Olympics silver medallist was stripped of her gold medal after England protested that she had a false start.
The Australian team lodged a counter-appeal, but it was rejected after lengthy, four-hour deliberations.
Due to Pearson’s disqualification, the gold medal went to Oludamola, while Endacott moved up to the bronze medal.
When asked whether they felt Pearson was the fastest female in the controversial 100metre race at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the three medallists were coy.
“I don’t really know,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Oludamola, as saying.
“It’s a very difficult question,” said silver medallist Natasha Mayers.Who knows?” Endacott concluded.
Meanwhile, Pearson was frustrated to learn of her rivals’ responses.I was the fastest one on the night. I beat [Endacott], fair and square, she got fourth. I don’t know why she didn’t think I was [fastest]. Obviously the best Jamaicans are the fastest in the Commonwealth,” Pearson said.
“I am here tonight, they are not. I won the race, they didn’t. [Endacott] did not. She did not get a medal in the race, she got it by the protest, so on the night I was the fastest,” she added. (ANI)
