England's Andrew Osagie has claimed that he was "tripped", after being disqualified for a controversial incident at the finish line of his heat in the men's 800m at the Commonwealth Games this afternoon.
The 26-year-old was involved in a tight finish with Wales's Joe Thomas, but just managed to pip his home nations rival to the line following a slight coming-together in the final metres.
Shortly after the race had finished, Osagie learned that he had been disqualified for "jostling or obstructing" a fellow competitor.
Osagie, who has lodged an appeal against the decision, insisted to Sports Mole that Thomas had tripped him.
"I think I was well within my rights to get tripped by somebody and still stay up," he said. "I don't think I edged him out in any way.
"Literally by the time it got to the point I'd been tripped, I couldn't even tell which way I was going. I think if it was the other way around and he came third and I came fourth, I'd put an appeal in and maybe mine would not be counter-protested but we'll see."
If Osagie's appeal is successful, Thomas will still qualify for the semi-finals as one of the fastest losers.
