Jeremiah Azu and Aaron Brown (Images via: Getty)

Does one get disqualified for a false start in track? All about athletes disqualified in the men's 100m today at Paris Olympics

Modified Aug 03, 2024 14:36 GMT

Since 2009, World Athletics (IAAF then) has taken strict action regarding the athletes imparting such practice and has ordered direct disqualification of the concerned athlete from the race. The same has happened quite a few times in the Paris Games.

A false start in the context of track and field generally denotes an early start that athletes take even before the official shoots the starting gun. Between 2003-2009, the athlete concerned was issued a strict warning for making such an early start in a race and was also allowed to make a second start.

However, if allowed by the referee the athlete can still run under protest (generally pertains when the official is under doubt) and complete the concerned race but such a procedure will not be taken into consideration if the Start Information System (World Athletics certified) has indicated an early start of the athlete.

The ongoing Paris Olympics too saw a couple of such disqualifications in the first round of the Men's 100m event on Saturday (August 3). The first athlete to be disqualified for making an early start in the round was Great Britain's Jeremiah Azu.

Azu, running in the first heat of the event was withheld by the referee from taking part in the race even under protest. His starting time was reported to be within 0.073 seconds of the gun start whereas the time allowed by the World Athletics is 0.01 seconds. Following this, the 23-year-old filed an appeal for his case which was declined by the officials of the committee.

Another similar incident took place in the first round of the Men's 100m event during the eighth heat of the event when Canada's Aaron Brow faced similar charges following a false start in the meet.

Jeremiah Azu opened up after being disqualified from the Men's 100m heats of the Paris Olympics due to a false start

Jeremiah Azu at the 2024 Paris Olympics (Image via: Getty Images)

Azu qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024 in the Men's 100m following a second-placed podium finish at the British Athletics Championships and was looking to make a mark in the first Olympics of his career. However, his false start in the heat shattered his hopes of making it to the semifinals of the Men's 100m event.

Following his exclusion from the race due to a false start, Azu caught up with a BBC One reporter during which he elaborated on the scene that went behind this disqualification. He stated:

"Honestly I reacted to a sound. It's a shame, the crowd is so excited, they have got the pole vault going on, the French fans are in here. It's a shame they did not let me run under protest. I am not sure what rules are being used."

Even though Azu is not qualified for any other individual events in this Paris Olympics, he can still be a part of the competition through the 4x100m relay event scheduled next week.