Cruel twist as Tipp star Sharlene Mawdsley is disqualified from the Women’s 400m at the World Indoor Championships

There was heartbreak across channel for Sharlene Mawdsley who will not now be taking part in tonight’s World Indoor Athletics Championship Women’s 400m final tonight in Glasgow. All Tipperary athletics followers were delirious at the prospect of the Newport Athletic Club star competing in the final later on at 9pm but a late appeal following her race scuppered her chances and brought the fourth finisher into the mix.

The Newport AC star had initially qualified for the final after finishing third in Glasgow at her semi-final event last night. That result ensured her a place in today’s final after running a time of 52.16 seconds but after the race the Austrian team claimed that the Tipperary woman had illegally crossed in front of Austria’s Susanne Gogl-Walli during the race.

The referee considered the appeal and made a judgement which meant that Mawdsley was disqualified losing her place in the final with the result overturned meaning that the final place went to the Austrian athlete instead of the Irish athlete.

The Irish there were aghast at the call and Athletics Ireland disagreed with the call. Team Ireland’s counter appeal to the decision was considered but ultimately rejected because their decision was that the Austrian “was obstructed as described in rule 17.13”. The Jury of Appeal upheld the track referee’s call on the matter.

Tipperary racer Mawdsley returns to action again tomorrow as part of the Women’s 4x400m Relay team where hopes are high of progress in this one.