Kazakh race walker Yasmina Toxanbayeva stripped of Asian Games gold over unsanctioned shoes
Kazakhstan's Yasmina Toxanbayeva has been stripped of her Asian Games gold in the women's marathon race walk after officials ruled she wore shoes not approved by World Athletics; she has appealed.
Kazakhstan’s Yasmina Toxanbayeva has been stripped of her Asian Games gold medal in the women’s marathon race walk after being disqualified for wearing shoes not approved by World Athletics, organisers confirmed on Monday.
Toxanbayeva crossed the line first on Sunday in three hours, 22 minutes and 20 seconds, nearly four minutes ahead of China’s runner-up Danzengquzong, but the results had remained provisional pending a protest. Organisers announced the annulment on Monday, citing “improper conduct”.
“Athletes must wear only those shoes approved and listed on a World Athletics platform. She was not wearing one, which is why we wrote to World Athletics,” a technical official said. “Cancelling the gold was their decision, which we conveyed to the athlete. The athlete has a right to appeal to the jury, and she has done that.”
Toxanbayeva confirmed the annulment on social media. “We fought until the end,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “Thank you to all my super-heroes who fought with me to the very end.”
Danzengquzong has been upgraded to the gold medal, with compatriot Ma Li taking silver ahead of Japan’s bronze medallist Yukiko Umeno.
Sources
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