Isaac Makwala '˜running with anger' at world championships

Botswana's Isaac Makwala runs alone as he competes in the heats of the men's 200m at the London Stadium. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

Makwala overcame illness, quarantine and two races in little more than two hours to qualify for tonight’s 200 metres final. On Tuesday night he was denied the chance to face South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, the world and Olympic 400m champion, over one lap.

After withdrawing from the 200m heats on medical grounds, the 30-year-old was told he could not take up his place in the 400m final amid concerns surrounding the outbreak of norovirus which has affected athletes and support staff. Makwala denied that he had food poisoning.

Then came the news that the Botswanan would be given the opportunity to claim a place in the 200m semi-finals if he could better 20.53 in a solo time trial from lane seven. And so, 20 minutes before the official start of action, the fast-filling stadium roared him on to a time of 20.20 then witnessed him perform a defiant set of press-ups.

So Makwala was added into a nine-man second semi-final heat, running in lane one – not normally used for the event due to the tightness of the bend – and clocked 20.14 behind the United States’ Isiah Young, who won the semi-final in 20.19secs. Makwala celebrated by raising his right arm aloft. He said: “I’m still running with my heart broken.

“I wish the IAAF had given me the decision to run the 400m first. I was ready to run. I don’t know who made the decision. The 400m is my  reason for training.

“I’m running with anger. 400m is my race. But thanks to the crowd, they were amazing and thanks to the IAAF for letting me run today.”

The IAAF had earlier been forced into a rebuttal to claims from Makwala that “sabotage” led to his exclusion from the 400m final.

Makwala told ITV on  Tuesday night “maybe this is sabotage” and told the BBC yesterday “there’s something fishy they don’t want to tell  us”. However, the IAAF dismissed his allegations as “absurd”.

An IAAF spokesperson said: “There is nothing we want more than extraordinary competition at these championships.

“We freed up the competition schedule here to allow this to happen between these two athletes over 200m and 400m. To suggest otherwise is absurd.”

Makwala’s 48-hour quarantine expired at 2pm yesterday afternoon and the IAAF accepted a request from Botswana to allow Makwala to try to qualify for the shorter event.

Britain’s Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake finished third in 20.19 and qualified for the final as a fastest loser.

There was drama in the final race of the night, the women’s 400m, when leader Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas pulled up while clear in the last 50 metres and dropped back to fourth, allowing the USA’s Phyllis Francis in for gold and Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser for silver.

A tenth world title for American legend Allyson Felix, pictured, was not to be but she did get the bronze.

That was Felix’s 14th world medal, putting her in a tie with Usain Bolt and Merlene Ottey at the top of the list.

Bolt can still move to 15 with a medal in the 4x100 relay this weekend, but Felix might run on both relay races for the US team, which could bring her to 16.

Felix already has the most gold medals among women with nine overall. Bolt has 11.

Karsten Warholm of Norway won the world title in the 400m hurdles, holding off  Yasmani Copello of Turkey and Kerron Clement of the United States.

The 21-year-old won his first major title in 48.35 seconds.

Earlier, Glaswegian hammer thrower Chris Bennett posted a best distance of 72.05, which wasn’t good enough to make the final, while US-based Scottish steeplechaser Lennie Waite bowed out at the heat stage as she finished tenth. Britain’s Lorraine Ugen made the long jump final.