Debate heated over US women’s relay team

Debate is heated over the decision of track and field officials at the Rio Olympics allowing re-run of the U.S. women’s 4x100m relay team. The U.S. team has advanced to the final but there is a growing controversy that the decision was solely made in favor of the nation, a traditional sports powerhouse.

During a preliminary heat on Thursday, running leg two of the U.S. team, Allyson Felix, tripped and the baton was dropped on the field just as she was about to make the pass to the third runner. The U.S. team continued and finished the race last with a recording time of 1 minute 6.71 seconds. The U.S. filed a protest and asked for an instant video replay, and the Rio Olympic Organizing Committee and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruled in the nation's favor, saying, “Felix was interfered with during a handoff from a Brazilian runner.” The U.S. got a second shot for qualification and Brazil was disqualified.

The U.S. ran its solo-race and has advanced to the final with a time of 41.77 seconds, the fastest qualifying time. At the same time, China moved down to ninth and was disqualified for the final after the repeat, as the U.S. beat China’s time of 42.70 seconds. Chinese people started blaming the Rio Olympics Organizing Committee’s decision over the re-run, saying that this was an unprecedented ruling and the intent was to advance the U.S. team to the final. Chinese complain by saying “The ruling is made in the US’ favor,” “It seems that Olympics is not a place for sportsmanship but a stage to compete how much influences one nation can exert on others,” and “It is a cheap trick to increase ratings through a match between the U.S. and No.2 Jamaica.”

This is not the first re-run in track and field in Rio. In men’s 110m hurdle on Tuesday, the disqualified hurdlers of the first two heats were given a chance for re-run after a torrential downpour interrupted the competition. However, this is a different situation from the U.S. that was allowed for solo re-run, and the team was advanced to the final, eliminating the other contender out of competition.

“Of all the strange things that have happened in women’s track and field at the Rio Olympics, and there have been a handful of odd occurrences, this was perhaps the most bizarre,” commented The New York Times.

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