Richardson admits gold ‘bittersweet’

thought I would be the champion or at least second. But Robles pulled me.”

Olympic champion Dayron Robles was disqualified for pulling rival Liu Xiang out of the hunt for gold in the 110-metre hurdles, handing victory in one of the most anticipated races of the world championships to American outsider Jason Richardson.

In a race almost as controversial as the 100m final disqualification of Usain Bolt on Sunday, Robles crossed the line first, but Liu appealed after the Cuban tangled with him over the two last hurdles, which suddenly pushed the Chinese into third place.

The track referee disqualified him for “obstruction”.

A Cuban counter-appeal was dismissed, giving the title to Richardson. The American profited from Liu’s tangle to sneak across the line in second.

“When I approached the ninth hurdle, Robles pulled me. It made me slow down,” said Liu, who had finished third but was bumped up to silver. “At first, I thought I would be the champion or at least second. But Robles pulled me.”

Liu did not imply malicious intent on Robles’ part in a race traditionally rife with flying arms and legs in narrow lanes.

“I am really sorry about the situation. You know competition,” Liu said. “Besides, we are good friends.”

Instead, it was Richardson who ran away with this year’s biggest prize.

“Whatever reward I get from doing my best, I will accept. If it’s gold, silver or bronze, it doesn’t matter,” Richardson said. “It’s bittersweet. You never want to see someone as talented as Robles disqualified.”

The decision left the Cubans angry. “He won the race. That’s what we know,” said Robles’ coach, Santiago Antunez.

Robles had crossed the line in 13.14 seconds, followed by Richardson in 13.16 and the fast slowing Liu in 13.27. Britain’s Andrew Turner was upgraded to bronze in 13.44.

The Americans won a second sprint title when Carmelita Jeter came back from behind to win the 100m ahead of Jamaican veteran Veronica Campbell-Brown. Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad and Tobago took bronze.

The United States was also expected to top the women’s 400, but it was Amantle Montsho who gave Botswana its first medal at a world championship, and a gold one to start out with. Allyson Felix, a three-time world champion in the 200, was even with Montsho as they entered the final straight but couldn’t overtake her.

Montsho won in a national record of 49.56 seconds. Felix was second in 49.59 and Anastasiya Kapachinskaya of Russia was third in 50.24.

Oscar Pistorius’ historic appearance came to an end as he failed to make the final of the 400m. The South African, the first amputee athlete to compete in the competition and again the most loudly-supported in the stadium, finished last in his semi-final.

The 24-year-old double amputee, whose carbon fibre blades have provoked great debate over whether they give him an unfair advantage, clocked 46.19secs.