Athletics-USA 4×400 mixed relay team re-established in final

TOKYO, July 31 (Reuters) – The United States 4×400-meter mixed relay team were reinstated in Saturday’s final due to an official error, a World Athletics spokesperson said after being disqualified on Friday for exchanging the baton outside the substitution area.

The US team, made up of Elija Godwin, Lynna Irby, Taylor Manson and Bryce Deadmon, has been reinstated by jury decision, Tokyo 2020 organizers announced on Saturday.

The Dominican Republic team, which was also disqualified on Friday, was also reinstated to play in the finals after a successful appeal, organizers said in a statement.

“The two teams have now been reinstated after appeal and will compete in the first-ever Olympic mixed relay final at 9:35 pm,” the statement said.

The American quartet had set the best time of their heat on Friday, ahead of the Dominican Republic which set a national record before being disqualified. Read more

USA Track & Field did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the circumstances surrounding their reinstatement.

Olympic organizers had not added the United States to the start list for the medal race on Saturday morning.

The United States won gold when the mixed relay first featured at the world championships in Doha in 2019 and is the favorite to win the event’s first Olympic gold medal.

Reporting by Amy Tennery and Omar Mohammed in Tokyo; Editing by Pritha Sarkar, Stephen Coates and Karishma Singh

Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.