Commonwealth Games: England denied dramatic relay gold by disqualification

England were denied a dramatic Commonwealth 4x400m relay gold after officials ruled they had committed a lane infringement before anchor Jessie Knight produced the strongest finish.

But the hosts were denied a fairy-tale ending to the athletics program as the umpires spotted Jodie Williams’ leg giving way in the first change.

Scotland were promoted to bronze.

Their team of Zoey Clark, Beth Dobbin, Jill Cherry and Nicole Yeargin stood on the podium for England in front of a half-empty Alexander Stadium when the medal ceremony took place.

Offense and decision denied England one of the moments of the Games as Knight, a specialist in the 400m hurdles, threw her arm out to cross her torso over the line and edge past Constantine by the narrowest of margins.

Constantine’s flat personal best is more than a second and a half faster than Knight’s but, after a wait to analyze the photo finish, the England anchor’s lunge appeared to have done enough.

Victoria Ohuruogu, Williams and Ama Pipi, who had competed in the individual final earlier in the day, did superbly to put Knight in a promising position.

But as Alexander Stadium erupted in celebration and the foursome posed for photographs, the referees were scrutinizing the start of the second leg when Williams’ foot slipped out of her lane.

Like Knight’s apparent victory, it seemed a matter of millimeters. But it was clear and decisive and England, who did not appeal, were stripped of their eighth athletics gold at the Games.