Featured Image Credit: La Liga +
Topics: Athletics
Nasir Jabbar
An athlete was disqualified following his disgraceful act just centimetres from the finish line that left the crowd in absolute shock.
The Spanish under-20 Indoor Championships took place in Salamanca, Madrid, last weekend as one event ended in controversial fashion.
It comes after junior sprinter Kaelen Tucker was struck in the head by a baton in a event in Virginia, leaving her with a suspected fractured skull.
In Spain, Guillermo Sanchez won the 1500m event, clocking an impressive time of 3:54:55.
Sanchez, 18, raised his hands in celebration as he crossed the finish line.
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But the crowd was left stunned at the subsequent sequence involving athletes Daniel Lopez and Mario Palencia, who were close behind Sanchez.
As Lopez, who was running in second at the time, closed in on the finish, he appeared to swerve in the path of Palencia.
His change of direction saw him get in the way of his rival just centimetres from the finish line.
Lopez's act clearly frustrated Palencia, who produced a moment of madness as he shockingly pushed his opponent, sending him tumbling to the ground.
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Lopez looked in pain as he laid stricken on the surface as he and Palencia seemed to exchange words and raised their arms at each other's decision.
A gasp from the crowd could be heard following the stunning incident.
Per Marca, the act was deemed to constitute unsportsmanlike conduct under article RT7.1.
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As a result, Palencia was shown a red card for the push on Lopez and was disqualified from the race for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Event organisers also took into account the pair clashing during the race as tensions boiled over at the finish line in astonishing scenes.
Eventual winner Sanchez and runner-up Lopez both won their respective heats to reach the final. Palencia had won his heat, too.