- The sprinter came into the event with high hopes after posting a sub-10 second time earlier this year.
- He spent a couple of minutes discussing the decision with officials before leaving.
- Azu was shocked to be unable to stand as a candidate under protest and his appeal was later rejected.
This is the shocking moment Team GB’s Jeremiah Azu angrily protests after being disqualified from the men’s 100m heats following a false start.
The Briton came into athletics’ showpiece event with high hopes after running the distance in under ten seconds earlier this year.
But his dream came to a heartbreaking end when he jumped the starting gun in Paris this afternoon and was disqualified from the race.
A bewildered Azu took his case to officials, who would not even allow him to compete under protest. His formal appeal was later rejected and his solo campaign at the Olympics ended.
Footage has now emerged of the disappointing incident, with the Welshman running out of the blocks just before the shot rang out.
This is the shocking moment Team GB’s Jeremiah Azu angrily protests after being disqualified from the men’s 100m heats following a false start.
A bewildered Azu argued his case with officials, who did not even allow the 23-year-old to run under protest.
The Briton came into athletics’ showpiece event with high hopes after running the distance in under ten seconds earlier this year.
Azu then returns to the starting line as if nothing had happened while officials argue.
Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether the sprinter will be banned from racing and the crowd is abuzz with speculation.
About a minute later, the loudspeaker announces: “False start: lane four,” confirming that Azu has been disqualified from the 100 meters.
The Briton then spends some time protesting as his competitors watch anxiously, knowing they will have to restart the race soon.
A heartbroken Azu is finally escorted out of the arena, knowing that his ambitions of winning a medal in the prestigious speed event are gone.
After the race, he told the BBC that he “reacted to a sound.”
He said: ‘It’s a shame, the crowd is very excited, they have the pole vault on, the French fans are here.
“It’s a shame they didn’t let me run under protest. I’m not sure what rules are being used.
His dream came to a heartbreaking end when he jumped the starting gun in Paris this afternoon and was disqualified from the race.
After the race, he told the BBC he “reacted to a sound” and “wasn’t sure what the rules were”.
The Briton spent some time protesting as his competitors watched anxiously, knowing they would soon have to restart the race.
‘I said I wanted to run under protest. In any other race they let you run and then they review it.
“It’s the Olympics, so there are clearly different rules.”
Azu will have the chance to make amends for her costly mistake next week when she represents Team GB in the 4x100m relay.