Jamaica loses appeal to have Natoya Goule-Toppin advance to 800m final at Paris Olympics

The Jury of Appeal has rejected the request made by Jamaican team officials to have many time national champion and record holder Natoya Goule-Toppin advance to the final of the women’s 800m event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Goule-Toppin led most of the way in semi-final one on Sunday but, after being bumped on the inside track with 100m to go, faded to sixth in 1:59.14 seconds as World Champion Mary Moraa of Kenya won in 1:57.86s ahead of Ethiopia’s Worknesh Mesele (1:58.06s) and Cuba’s Daily Cooper Gaspar (1:58.39s).

Jamaican team officials after having their initial protest rejected by the race referee, filed a second protest to further argue their case that a breach of race rules had been committed.

This appeal was also rejected by the Jury of Appeal.

In handing down its decision the Jury of Appeal said it “reviewed video of the incident involving the Jamaican and Ethiopian athletes.”

“While the jury observed contact between the two athletes as the Ethiopian attempted to pass on the inside, the jury concluded that the momentum of the Jamaican athlete was not significantly impacted and that the minor jostling of the two athletes did not influence the eventual placing and time of the Jamaican athlete,” It said in a statement.

“The jury therefore rejects the appeal and confirms the result of the race as originally posted.”

“The jury chair is prepared to meet with the team if they SO wish.”

The decision means Goule-Toppin misses out on making back to back Olympic final appearances. The final takes place on Monday at 2:47pm Jamaica time

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