European Championships: Steeplechaser Disqualified & Stripped Of Gold For Impromptu Stripping Of Shirt

French steeplechaser Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad has been disqualified and stripped of gold at the European Championships for removing his shirt during the race. Approaching the final barrier, the Frenchman had the race and gold medal in the bag, having a enough time in hand to showboat by stripping
off his running vest before putting it into his mouth and waving to the crowd.

Fans in the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich jeered as he crossed the finishing line clear of his team-mate Yoann Kowal in eight minutes 25.30 seconds his third straight victory in the event at the championships after 2010 and 2012.
The 29-year-old controversial athlete who has been involved in fights with mascots and team-mates before had the presence of mind to put his top back after the finish, but the damage was done. He was initially shown a yellow card as a warning by an official, but an appeal by Spain on behalf of fourth placed athlete Angel Mullera led to his disqualification.

His French team lodged a counter-protest but that was rejected, with Mekhissi-Benabbad disqualified under IAAF competition rules 143.1, 143.7.