Double Olympic champion and world record holder in the 400m hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, has been ruled ineligible to participate in the Diamond League finals, set to take place in Brussels, Belgium. The news comes as a disappointment for fans of the American athlete, who had received an invitation to compete in the women’s 400m and 200m events.
However, according to Diamond League rules, athletes must either accumulate enough points during the 14 regular-season meets or receive a wildcard to be eligible for the finals. McLaughlin-Levrone did not compete in any of the regular Diamond League events this season, leaving her without the required points and disqualifying her from a wildcard.
Petr Stastny, the Chief Executive Officer of Diamond League, emphasized the importance of following the established rules. He stated that the Diamond League final is not an invitational meeting, and any athlete vying for a Global Wild Card must have participated in at least one regular event during the season.
While the rule allowed Norwegian champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen to compete in the 3,000m at the 2023 Diamond League final in Eugene through the Global Wild Card provision, McLaughlin-Levrone falls short of the requirement, having not competed in any regular Diamond League events.
This decision highlights the stringent eligibility criteria enforced by the Diamond League, ensuring fair competition and a level playing field for all athletes. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of the Global Wild Card system and whether it should be more flexible in the future to allow for exceptional athletes like McLaughlin-Levrone to participate.
