Lima, August 28 (RHC) – Cuban athlete Leonardo Diaz got disqualified from the Discus Throw competition in the category F54-56 (Wheel Chair), in the Lima 2019 Special Pan-Am Games, when a reclamation was filed by the Mexican delegation and it was accepted by the International Officials in the event.
The Cuban delegation protested at the Villa Deportiva Nacional, in the Peruvian Capital, and after the disqualification was confirmed, an explanatory communiqué was released.
``In the Discus Throw Category F54-56 (Wheel Chair) event, our athlete Leonardo Diaz Aldana finished 2nd. The Mexican delegation protested for the result due to an allege violation committed by Diaz and presenting as evidence a video feed on one of the athlete´s attempts, in which a knee movement that could be illegal is seen´´.
``The designated judges approved the reclamation, and because of the lack of alternative evidence, the Cuban delegation was not allowed to object the verdict, that ended in the disqualification of the Cuban athlete and in a Mexican athlete winning a Bronze medal´´.
``This turn of event has impacted negatively in the mood of the Cuban athletes. We will send a letter to the International Paralympic Committee, for we consider what happened to be unfair and a clear act of favoritism´´.
Alberto Juantorena, President of the Cuban Paralympic Committee and Vice-President of the IAAF, sent a letter of complaint to the International Paralympic Committee.
