STEVEN DOWNES, Seville | Thursday 6.00pm.
STEEPLECHASE world record-holder Bernard Barmasai will be disqualified from the remainder of the million dollar Golden League circuit after admitting that he had persuaded a teammate to ease up at the Zurich Grand Prix meeting earlier this month, according to official sources.
Christopher Koskei, the new world champion and the runner who “allowed” Barmasai to win in Zurich and stay in contention for the million dollar jackpot, may also face disciplinary action when the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) Council meets here on Monday after the world championships.
To win a share of the Golden League jackpot, athletes have to win their events at seven meetings, and then the Grand Prix Final. Barmasai was one of four undefeated athletes going into Zurich, on August 11, the fifth event of the circuit.
In the steeplechase, Koskei eased back after Barmasai signalled to him. The IAAF has been investigating the incident, considering a charge of “unsporting behaviour”.
According to sources within the IAAF, a BBC Radio tape of an interview given by Barmasai in Zurich provides conclusive proof. On the tape, Barmasai admits that he told Koskei to “leave it to me”.
“We can’t let him carry on after that,” said the source. “Barmasai will be disqualified from the Zurich race, and from the Golden League jackpot.
As if to prove that Koskei had the beating of his team mate, in the world championship final in Seville on Monday, Koskei won gold while Barmasai finished fifth. Even then, Koskei admitted that the four Kenyans in the race had worked together as a team.
With the Golden League resuming in Brussels next Wednesday, Barmasai’s disqualification and the injury suffered by Marion Jones on Wednesday night could leave the way clear for the dashin Dane, Wilson Kipketer (800m), and top Romanian distance runner Gabriela Szabo to split the $1-million between them. — AFP