Results of 49er medal race subject to jury hearing

by xinhuanet.com on 18 Aug 2008 Results of the 49er medal race on Sunday at the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition still remained unofficial with the jury reconvening on Monday morning to decide on a protest lodged after the provisional gold medallists sailed the race in another team's boat.

Jonas Warrer and Martin Ibsen of Denmark are provisionally in the gold medal position, but could be disqualified from the medal race and therefore fall back to fourth overall.

The Danish team were protested by the Race Committee for sailing the medal race in a boat borrowed from the Croatian crew, who were not competing in the medal race, after the mast on the Danish 49er snapped shortly before the start, according to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez of Spain, 2004 Olympic gold medallists, won the medal race and are provisionally in the silver medal position, with the German brothers Jan-Peter Peckolt and Hannes Peckolt provisionally winning bronze. Italians Pietro Sibello and Gianfranco Sibello lie fourth overall in the provisional results.

John Doerr, chair of the Jury panel that heard the protest, said the case was complicated, involving a series of points in the Sailing Instructions.

He added that the decision to reconvene on Monday morning was made to ensure all the facts could be considered fully and the correct decision could be made. Until the outcome of the protest hearing, the medal race results and overall results in the 49er event remain unofficial.

Earlier on Sunday, an enthralling medal race provided a dramatic finish to an incredibly day at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center with a big swell and stormy conditions with gusts up of 20 knots and more. The Austrians led for much of the race, with the Italians in second and the Australians third.

This put the Australians and Italians in a battle for gold and when the Austrians crashed up, the Australians took the lead and the Italians capsized, it looked like gold would go to the Australians. However they capsized close to the finish on the final run, the Spanish kept their boat upright and crossed the line in first.

If the Danes are disqualified, Spain's Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez, winners of the medal race, will have retained the title they won in Athens fours years ago. Germany's Jan-Peter Peckolt and Hannes Peckolt finished second in the medal race and are provisionally winners of the bronze medal.

Due to the official race results being delayed, the medal ceremony for the 49er competition will take place late on Monday.

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