Kenya loses medal after Olympic champion gets disqualified

Kenya’s Ezekiel Kemboi has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Men’s 3000m steeplechase on Wednesday for stepping off the track.

He loses his bronze medal to France’s Mahiedine Mekhissi who protested after he came fourth in the 3000m steeplechase men final.

THE LATEST: Kenyan steeplechaser Kemboi disqualified from race, loses bronze medal https://t.co/Ha2q64iHBq pic.twitter.com/e8XFVzEx0l

— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) August 17, 2016

“A protest was presented by the French team after the 3000m steeplechase men final against Kenyan athlete Ezekiel Kemboi … claiming he had stepped off the track,” an IAAF statement said.

“An appeal jury met and examined the video of the race, confirming that Kemboi, after clearing a water jump, had stepped outside the track on the curved part before the home straight,” it added.

The rules clearly state that runners cannot step off the inside edge of the track when running around bends.

Kemboi, who was the reigning two-time Olympic champion, announced his retirement after originally winning bronze in the race won by another Kenyan Conseslus Kipruto.

The 34-year-old has been running for the past 18 years.

Kemboi retires with bronze win in Rio 3,000m finals https://t.co/ubWMOxWL0U pic.twitter.com/sLgZsjZwkR

— The Star, Kenya (@TheStarKenya) August 17, 2016

The most dominant, charismatic steeplechase champion of his era.Thank you for 18 years of pure magic Ezekiel Kemboi! pic.twitter.com/patFwFxpeh

— Spokesperson GOK (@SpokespersonGoK) August 17, 2016