Kemboi disqualified on his swansong, Mekhissi gets bronze
What you need to know:
- Kemboi had finished third in the race won by his compatriot Conseslus Kipruto in a new Olympic time of 8:03:28 with American Evan Jager finishing second for silver.
Two-time Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi late Wednesday lost his Rio Olympics 3000m steeplechase bronze medal for a lane infringement.
The decision, arrived at over six hours after the race, means Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi moves from fourth to bronze medal in the official standings.
Kemboi had finished third in the race won by his compatriot Conseslus Kipruto in a new Olympic time of 8:03:28 with American Evan Jager finishing second for silver.
According to AFP, Mekhissi finished fourth but appealed against Kemboi's action, resulting in the disqualification and his own promotion.
"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," said an IAAF statement.
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."
Under race rules, runners cannot step off the inside edge of the track when running around bends.
Kemboi, who won gold in 2004 Athens and 2012 London, announced his retirement from athletics immediately after the race.
