28/Sep/2000
Track and Field
MEXICO FILES COMPLAINT AFTER LOSING GOLD TO DISQUALIFICATION

SYDNEY, (Sept. 27) -- The Mexican Olympic Committee has filed a complaint with Olympic officials regarding the controversial disqualification of Mexican race walker Bernardo Segura.

Bernardo Segura (AP Photo)

Shortly after finishing first last Friday in the 20-km walk, Segura was basking in his victory with the press and on the phone with President Ernesto Zedillo when a judge showed him a red card indicating a foul.

Segura had been cited on two previous occasions for the same offense, failing to maintain continuous contact with the ground.

The third and maximum warning, however, resulted from the closely contested final stretch of the race and meant the Mexican athlete's disqualification.

As a result, Poland's Robert Korzeniowski was awarded the gold medal and Mexico's Noe Hernandez exchanged his bronze medal for a silver.

Although Mexico does not expect the judge's ruling to be overturned, Mexican IOC member Mario Vazquez Raņa said he hoped the appeal would result in sanctions against the judge for failing to follow Olympic protocol by not immediately notifying Segura of his disqualification.


Terra Sports/EFE