Quote:[SIZE=14px]Algerian middle-distance runner Taoufik Makhloufi has been kicked out of the London Olympics for not trying hard Monday in an 800-meter preliminary heat.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14px] [/SIZE]
[SIZE=14px]Makhloufi, who stopped running in the first lap of the 800, had already qualified for Tuesday's 1,500 final, and he appeared to be saving energy for that race, where he was a likely medal contender.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14px]The International Association of Athletics Federations says race referee found the 24-year-old African champion in the 800 guilty of ''failure to compete honestly with bona fide effort.''[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14px]IAAF rules state that ''an athlete shall be excluded from participation in all further events in the competition.''[/SIZE]
[SIZE=14px]He was disqualified a week after four women's badminton doubles teams were disqualified for playing to lose in order to get a more favorable position in a later round.[/SIZE]