Cuban hurdler Dayron Robles, who was disqualified after winning the sprint hurdles title at the World Championships said he wouldn’t have had his gold medal taken away if he came from a more powerful country.
Robles, the Olympic champion and world record holder, crossed the finishing line first in the men’s 110m hurdles final, but had his gold medal take away after judges upheld an appeal from the Chinese contingent after replays showed that the Cuban held back Liu Xiang.
“If I were from another country that had more power, that wouldn’t have happened,” Robles was quoted as telling The Associated Press on Tuesday.
“It’s very controversial that these things happen in an athletics world championships, lamentably it was my turn to lose out.”
He added: “You can always get hit, you open your arms and there’s always contact. I’ve had races where I’ve collided with (American hurdler David) Oliver, with the same Chinese (Liu), that’s normal and all the athletes know it.”
YOU ARE SOOOO RIGHT DAYRON, BUT DONT WORRY YOUR DAY OF REDEMPTION IS COMING SOON. GO DO WHAT YOU DO BEST IN LONDON AND TAKE YOUR RIGHTFUL PLACE ON THE PODIUM. GOD DOES NOT LIKE UGLY!!!!!!! NO SAH.
You must be kidding! Not about Robles doing what he does best in London but about being “sooooo right”. Nonsense. Watch the slow motion. His arm action is completely smooth and close to his body until he’s being passed and then he grabs Liu’s arm, twice. It is obvious to anyone who is impartial. Both are superb hurdlers but Robles panics, loses form, and clearly obstructs. It is a shame.
YOU ARE CLEARLY BIAS. ALL I SAW WAS ARM MOVEMENTS THAT IS INDICATIVE OF THE SPORT. AS A CUBAN ATHLETE HE WAS ALREADY AT A DISADVANTAGE, IT’S ALL POLITICS.
The photographs tell it all. Robles was coming into Lui’s lane. Hurdles is the one event in which runners MUST keep to their lanes, the balance is so delicate. I would have DQ’d him at once.
are you kidding? from some angle it looks just the opposite.
On the video, watch Robles’ left foot as he crosses the hurdles. It clearly moves to his right, ie, toward Liu. It’s also clear on the slo-mo that he’s actually reaching for Liu with his right hand, before he finally gets him on the second to last hurtle.
Don not lie Dayron,the video show how the chinese was passing you and then you grab his forearms and pulled.He will win the race.
Wa Wa Wa, Robles–If you cannot beat him, cheat him-
Eh What! Stop all the crying about being D,Q,ed because
you are from a small country and show some class and take your medicine.
I empathise with Dayron. One has to appreciate that at that point in the race lactic acid is creeping in making athletes tired and somewhat ragged. Looking at the tape I saw that Dayron also was thrown of momentarily. It happens and it was not intentional.Many athletes are spiked accidently. These things happen in athletics.Disqualification was indeed harsh
I dont agree with what Robles said,he is a great hurdler, and the call was a give or take but if Robles didnt bump Xiang he would have beaten him,if Xiang stays healthy he is going to be hard to beat at the Olympics,but its any of the top 3 guys that will pull it off,if Oliver gets out quick he can win .