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Bahraini Jamal takes gold after winner disqualified

Berlin, August 24, 2009

Bahraini Maryam Yusuf Jamal retained her world title in the women's 1,500 metres on Sunday after race winner Spaniard Natalia Rodriguez was disqualified for pushing an opponent.

Rodriguez had beaten Jamal with a sprint in the home stretch after having been involved in the fall of Ethiopian favourite Gelete Burka 250m from the finish.

The Spaniard clocked a time of four minutes 3.36 seconds with Jamal just holding on to silver ahead of Britain's Lisa Dobriskey but the Spaniard was later disqualified.

Dobriskey now moves up to silver and American Shannon Rowbury claims bronze.

"There was a lot of pushing in that race and I am very disappointed that Gelete fell," said Jamal, putting the blame squarely on Rodriguez.

"She was at fault. If that had not happened Gelete would have been in the top three. But it does not take away from my victory because had that girl not gone through like that I would have won (the race)."

Rodriguez and Ethiopian-born Jamal, who had run the season's best time going into the championships, raced past Burka before the final bend, with the Spaniard pushing herself through the inside lane.

Burka, in the lead at the time of her fall, came in last of the starters and collapsed in tears before being carried away with a bandaged left knee.

Rodriguez barely celebrated her win and immediately went to apologise to the stricken Ethiopian. – Reuters




Tags: Berlin | Bahraini | Jamal | Women’s 1500 metres |

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