The World Swimming Championships in Japan were thrown into chaos earlier today following the finish of the women's 4x200 freestyle relay event. The first two teams home, the Australians and the Americans, were both disqualified before the Americans were reinstated but the victory ceremony has had to be put back for 24 hours while the confusion is sorted out.
The Australians were disqualified because one of their team jumped back into the pool to celebrate their victory before the last swimmer home, an Italian, had finished the race. The Americans were initially disqualified because their second swimmer Cristina Teuscher had left her block 0.06 seconds - twice the allowed time - before lead-off swimmer Natalie Coughlin touched. However, they claimed that the touchpad in their lane had been faulty and they were reinstated and the touchpad removed.
The Australians, the British, who finished third and the Japanese, who finished fifth, are all appealing the outcome of the race. The British and the Japanese are appealing the reinstatement of the Americans, which moves them back down in the medal placings, while Australia are appealing their disqualification.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
