Phuket
Steeplechase winner disqualified for shirtless celebration

PHUKET: Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad was stripped of the 3,000-meter steeplechase gold medal after performing a shirtless celebration down the final straight at the European Athletics championships on Thursday.
The Frenchman, well clear of the rest of the field, pulled off his vest as he came around the final bend, put it in his mouth as he waved to the crowd.
He then held it in his hand as he sprinted down the final straight for what appeared to be his third successive European gold in the event.
He initially received a yellow card from a track official for “acting in an unsporting or improper manner” before he started his lap of honour.
But he was later disqualified after Spain, whose athletes finished fourth and fifth, made an official protest citing rules on “clothing, shoes and bibs”, organisers said.
Mekhissi-Benabbad’s compatriot Yoann Kowal, who had moved from fourth to second in the final 200 meters, took gold instead, ahead of Krystian Zalewski (Poland) and Spain’s Angel Mullera.
“When I took off my vest on the last meters, it was because of my joy, of course,” Mekhissi-Benabbad told the championship’s official website before the disqualification was announced. “It was the pleasure of winning. I was so happy to defend my title.
“The main thing was to win. I did not know that I was going to get a yellow card for that.”
“But this yellow card, this is nothing. It was just the emotion. Today I will enjoy my victory and we have to see how this evening will finish.”
Kowal said: “What Mahiedine did with his vest was not disturbing or anything, nothing important.”
Mekhissi-Benabbad has been involved in controversy in the past and was once suspended along with team mate Mehdi Baala after they traded blows following the 1,500 meters at a Diamond League meeting in Monaco.
At one point Baala head-butted Mekhissi who responded by swinging his arms wildly as he threw a series of punches, some of which missed their intended target.
— Reuters
Get more from The Thaiger
Join the conversation and have your say on Thailand news published on The Thaiger.
Thaiger Talk is our new Thaiger Community where you can join the discussion on everything happening in Thailand right now.
Please note that articles are not posted to the forum instantly and can take up to 20 min before being visible. Click for more information and the Thaiger Talk Guidelines.

-
Best of1 day ago
Top 5 Boarding Schools in Thailand (2022)
-
Hotels2 days ago
Impressive beachfront hotels to book in Phuket
-
Best of2 days ago
Best diving schools in Koh Samui for 2022
-
Best of2 days ago
5 incredible beaches in Phuket to visit in 2022
-
Guides2 days ago
Why you should visit a wellness retreat in Thailand
-
Drugs2 days ago
Govt take a trip to the shroom to help Thailand’s depressed
-
Bangkok2 days ago
Cannabis is illegal on Khao San Road, officials call for crackdown
-
Thailand2 days ago
4am alcohol curfew may increase revenue, but also crime, deaths