BEIJING // Netherlands Antilles have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to restore Churandy Martina as the third-place finisher in the men's 200metres after he was disqualified for stepping out of his lane. Usain Bolt of Jamaica won the gold in Wednesday's race, the American Wallace Spearmon crossed the finish line second and Martina was third, but both were disqualified for stepping out of their lanes.
Two Americans, Shawn Crawford and Walter Dix, were moved up to silver and bronze medal positions. But the Netherlands Antilles are arguing that the protest against Martina was filed well beyond the 30 minute deadline set by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), and they say they have video showing he stayed in his lane the entire time. William Millerson, the president of the country's Olympic committee, said this is also about a small country standing up to the IAAF and the US Olympic Committee. He said Americans are focused on boosting their medal count.
"Just because we're a smaller country, we don't have to be like a dog, put your tail in your behind and then leave," he said. "We cannot do that because, even being a small country, we have our pride." Millerson said the CAS should have a ruling by Sept 30. The Netherlands Antilles' case starts with the precedent set at last year's World Championship, when the American Michelle Perry was allowed to keep her title in the 100m hurdles even though replays clearly show her going out of her lane, because the protest was filed too late.
* AP
