Nigeria’s disappointing show at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics continued on Friday as the men’s 4x400m relay team were disqualified in the semi-final for lane voilation.
The quartet, Ifeanyi Ojeli, Ezekiel Nathanial, Dubem Amene, and Chidi Okezie had earlier qualified for the final after finishing second in the second semi-final with a season’s best time of 2:59.81.
The time was the fastest run by a Nigerian 4x400m relay quarter since August 1984 in Los Angeles.
The team were however disqualified after Ifeanyi Ojeli was charged for lane violation, leading to the tripping of a South African runner.
The Nigerian quartet were disqualified based on the World Athletics rule TR17.2.3.
It states, “Use for a direct DQ for lane infringement e.g. stepping over the line completely or multiple
infringements on the line in the same race run in lanes.”
The Nigerian team were then replaced by South Africa in the final.
