Sharlene Mawdsley achieved a landmark feat in Irish athletics last night, with the Tipperary woman reaching the 400m final at the World Athletics Indoor Championship in Glasgow. However, she would have that honour stripped on the back of a controversial disqualification soon after.
Entering her semi-final as the lowest ranked of the six competitors, it was not expected that the Irishwoman would secure a top three finish. Despite this, she produced a brilliant performance to ensure her spot in a first ever global final.
𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠! 🥺
It hasn't landed her a dream 400m final place but this is how Ireland's Sharlene Mawdsley finished third in Glasgow tonight before a post-race disqualification.#WICGlasgow24 | #WorldIndoorChamps pic.twitter.com/c4d0l9DFBX— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 1, 2024
However, it soon emerged that her place in that race was in doubt.
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Sharlene Mawdsley misses out on world indoor final due to DQ
Soon after the semi-final, it would emerge that Sharlene Mawdsley was under investigation for an illegal manoeuvre during the race, one that could ultimately see her disqualified.
The issues stemmed from a tangle with Austrian runner Susanne Gogl-Walli around the 200-metre mark, with the Austrian representatives lodging a complaint to say that that their athlete had been obstructed.
The relevant authorities ultimately agreed that an obstruction had taken place and disqualified Mawdsley as a result. The Irish contingent would appeal the decision, although to no success.
You can watch the incident in question below. It's obvious that there wasn't much in it.
This apparently is a DQ now! Can’t see the reason that Sharlene Mawdsley is not in the 400m final pic.twitter.com/fNyousI5aU
— Will Dalton (@WillDalton01) March 1, 2024
The issue was that Mawdsley stepped in front of her fellow runner too soon after the overtake, although it was not a blatantly obvious infringement.
While it is technically against the rules, incidents of this nature are very rarely punished, especially in the more cramped surroundings of an indoor track.
Many of those who follow and report on athletics regularly felt that the Ireland star was treated incredibly harshly on this occasion.
After Sharlene Mawdsley's DQ, watched some other world indoor races to see examples of obstruction.
It took a whole two races to find this - the 2016 men's 800m final.
Watch the battle for silver. No DQ. Then watch last night's race.
The lack of consistency is a real issue. pic.twitter.com/R68QdrFaQR— Cathal Dennehy (@Cathal_Dennehy) March 2, 2024
Sharlene Mawdsley would have been disqualified for cutting across too early. Letter of the law vs spirit of the law, it still feels very harsh. It shouldn’t be a surprise most people thought it was for the earlier more obvious incident. #WICGlasgow24 #WorldIndoorChamps #Glasgow24 https://t.co/ABHrCr1VWJ
— Will Downing (@WillDowningComm) March 2, 2024
Feel very sorry for @sharlenem229 this seems a very harsh decision 😤
She deserved to be in that final. https://t.co/1tYfPYctXp— Derval O'Rourke (@DervalORourke) March 1, 2024
My reaction on hearing Sharlene Mawdsley was disqualified last night in the World Indoors...#Athletics #WICGlasgow24@irishathletics pic.twitter.com/RPFvkLnPnP
— One Morning in August (@OneMorninAugust) March 2, 2024
This decision robbed Sharlene Mawdlsey of the opportunity of appearing in her first global final, something that will be difficult to accept.
She will not have much time to lick her wounds, however, with the Irish champion set to go again in the 4x400m relay tomorrow.
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