Olympic Runner Stripped of Medal, Later Reinstated After Controversial Decision

Kenyan distance runner Faith Kipyegon finished second in the Olympic 5,000 meter final on Monday after a physical race.

With a little more than 800 meters to go in the final at Stade de France, Kipyegon jockeyed for position with Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay. Race officials deemed that Kipyegon was at fault for the illegal contact and issued an obstruction infraction.

As a result, Kipyegon was stripped of the silver medal she earned for her second-place finish.

This decision was controversial to say the least. Ultimately, it resulted in an appeal from Kenya's team officials.

After a successful appeal, Kipyegon's silver medal was reinstated.

When Kipyegon was initially knocked off the podium, Netherlands' Sifan Hassan moved into second and Italy's Nadia Battocletti took third. The successful appeal pushed Battocletti out of the bronze medal spot and Hassan back down to third.

Tsegay, the other runner involved in the physical altercation, ultimately finished eighth.

Kipyegon's fellow Kenyan Beatrice Chebet won gold with a time of 14 minutes 28.56 seconds.

"I am so sad for Faith and I hope justice will be done. Because Faith did not do anything bad," Chebet told reporters before the appeal decision. "I think she will get it [the medal] in the end."