The world 400m hurdles record-holder and a number of Olympic champion should have the ability to compete in Brussels however solely in non-Diamond League occasions
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who had deliberate to finish her unbelievable 2024 season by doing the 200m and 400m on the Diamond League ultimate in Brussels, is “ineligible” to race in each occasions, in response to Diamond League CEO Petr Stastny.
The 25-year-old claimed her second Olympic 400m hurdles gold medal in Paris – breaking her personal world report with 50.37 – and was additionally a part of the US ladies’s 4x400m staff that stood on the highest of the rostrum.
Nonetheless, hopes of ending off her marketing campaign within the Belgian capital this season could also be dashed after Stastny’s feedback.
In an e-mail despatched to LetsRun, he acknowledged that “it’s not about permitting a particular athlete to compete or not” however “about guidelines and standards which should be fulfilled by all to changing into eligible to compete on the WDL Remaining”.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s eligibility revolves round “international wild playing cards”.
Most athletes qualify for the Diamond League ultimate by accumulating factors however they will additionally e book their spot through these wild playing cards.
4 international wild playing cards could be given out to athletes they usually have been created to ensure that among the finest athletes on this planet compete within the Diamond League ultimate.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Getty)
One athlete who benefited final yr was Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who competed within the 3000m in Eugene.
Nonetheless, there are stipulations that must be met for an athlete to qualify for that wild card.
In response to the foundations laid down by World Athletics for the Diamond League, an athlete will need to have both competed or achieved a lead to at the very least one Diamond League assembly throughout that season.
McLaughlin-Levrone hasn’t raced at a Diamond League since final July, when she clocked 49.71 over 400m in Paris.
Stastny added: “Ms McLaughlin-Levrone doesn’t fulfil these standards, both by accumulating sufficient factors or receiving a wild card.
“The ultimate leg of the Diamond League shouldn’t be an invitational assembly and any athlete proposed for a worldwide wild card will need to have competed at the very least in certainly one of our occasions throughout this season.”
McLaughlin-Levrone may nonetheless finish her season in Brussels however it might imply operating in a non-Diamond League occasion, which often have weaker fields.
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