Olympics,strange Decisions

[grumpy01]

Some more strange decisions and outcomes today.U.S.A. 4x100m women's relay team allowed a second chance to qualify after they dropped the baton in qualification race.Nikitin the Russian boxer involved in the controversial fight the other day will not contest his semi-final due to injury.You couldn't make it up.

[jourdain2]

If I remember rightly, IAAF rules state that a dropped baton = disqualification (so does putting a toe over the box line) Even if they were impeded the other team would face the penalty, impeded team should have slowed to pass properly. That's my interpretation and I coached relay teams for years. Had the USA team come in downfield as the result, then there would have been a case for including them in the next round - but they dropped the baton. Rule is that the baton goes round the track - if it doesn't do that they are out.

Don know anything about boxing, sorry.

[askyourgran]

The Russians seem to have had a bad time,the Russian Diver made a mess of his dives and now the boxer claims to be injured.

[Ellipsis]

The baton drop is explained here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/37119617

[naomi24]

I've just watched that relay race on the News. I was perplexed by the decision to allow them to re-run it. I thought the front runner obstructed her own team mate. Very odd.

[grumpy01]

Me to Naomi.I think they make up the rules to suit the situation. If GB had dropped the baton there would have been no re-run but because its the US then they found a way.

[Ken4155]

I don't think we Brits can complain too much about some of these decisions. I'm convinced Jason Kenny should have been disqualified the other night and then the German World Champ in the restart should also have gone.

[ChillDoubt]

Having seen the incident on the BBC highlights programme I believe the USA had every right of appeal, they were badly impeded and interfered with by the Brazilian runner.

Given some of the shocking decisions in the boxing it's nice to see fair play and common sense prevail. As for Jason Kenny I agree entirely with Ken, he was very lucky not to be disqualified and I say that as a massive cycling and Team GB fan.

[ichkeria]

" Rule is that the baton goes round the track - if it doesn't do that they are out. "
The baton did go round the track. I think that was why they continued to the finish (in 66 secs) . Had they not done so they would not have been able to appeal.