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Taoufik Makhloufi celebrates a gold medal win in the mens 1500m |
One day after being disqualified from the Olympic Games due to what many considered as a lack or sportsmanship or morale fiber, Algeria's Taoufik Makhloufi wins gold in the men's1500m then next day when the decision was overturned by the IAAF.
The International Association of Athletics Federations had initially taken a view of the Algerian's 800m performance, in which he jogged barely 150m before opting to drop out and wander back across the infield. "The referee considered he had not provided a bona fide effort and decided to exclude him from participation in all further events in the competition," said an IAAF statement. LOCOG, however, later released a statement confirming the disqualification had been revoked after a medical certificate was supplied by a local doctor suggesting he had a knee problem.
Maybe Makhloufi truly had a knee injury during the 800m or maybe he was saving his knees for the best race of his life!
(Photo: courtesy of france24.com)