Hours after he’d finished third in the men’s 3000m steeplechase final, Kenya’s Ezekiel Kemboi has been disqualified by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF). Per a release from the IAAF, Kemboi was ruled to have violated Rule 163.3b, which states:
“Lane Infringement: in all races (or any part of races) not run in lanes, an athlete running on a bend, on the outer half of the track as per Rule 162.10, or on any curved part of the diversion from the track for the steeplechase water jump, shall not step or run on or inside the curb or line marking the applicable border (the inside of the track, the outer half of the track, or any curved part of the diversion from the track for the steeplechase water jump).”
The protest was filed by a French official, and as a result of Kemboi’s disqualification France’s Mahiedine Mekhissi is now the bronze medalist. The ruling does not impact either Kenya’s Conseslus Kipruto or U.S. Evan Jager, who took gold and silver in the event. Kemboi took gold in the event in both 2004 and 2012.
It’s unclear if Kemboi would be able to appeal the ruling with either the IAAF or the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).