(CNN)We've each been there: arriving a fewer minutes precocious for an important event, a luncheon oregon gathering with friends.
But successful changeable putter Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli's case, his tardiness outgo him a golden medal astatine the Tokyo Paralympics.
The Malaysian jock was stripped of his golden medal aft helium won the men's changeable enactment F20 connected Tuesday due to the fact that helium had arrived 3 minutes precocious to the competition.
Zolkefli and 2 different competitors were initially allowed to enactment successful the lawsuit due to the fact that "they whitethorn person had a logical crushed for being late," said International Paralympic Committee (IPC) spokesperson Craig Spence.
"Therefore, we allowed them to vie and look astatine the facts of the substance afterward," Spence added.
However, a referee aboriginal concluded that determination was "no justifiable crushed for the athletes' failure" to amusement up to the lawsuit successful time, according to a statement from way and tract governing assemblage World Para Athletics.
As a result, Zolkefli's sanction was trending connected Twitter, with immoderate users lamenting his loss.
"You did your best. No request to accidental atrocious champ. Comeback stronger our leader ziyad zolkefli," 1 idiosyncratic tweeted. "So heartbreaking for Ziyad Zolkefli," said another.
Others directed their choler astatine Ukraine's Maksym Koval, who had won metallic but was awarded golden aft Zolkefli's disqualification. Spence described the comments arsenic "very abusive."
"Ridiculous successful my view. I mean, yes you tin beryllium unhappy with the determination but what I present spot is comments connected each our societal media posts which person thing to bash with the men's changeable enactment F20 event," Spence said.
"Rules are rules, the determination was taken, and it wasn't the Ukrainian's fault. The Malaysian was precocious to the telephone room," Spence added. "Really disappointing that specified maltreatment happens connected societal media."
Koval's Ukrainian teammate Oleksandr Yarovyi clinched silver, portion Greece's Efstratios Nikolaidis claimed bronze.
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