Strange action
Athlete disqualified for provocative gesture
Updated on February 24, 2026Reading time: 1 min.
He had actually already secured the victory. But his celebration ultimately cost Tshepiso Masalela dearly.
The track and field athlete Tshepiso Masalela was subsequently disqualified for a celebrating gesture at the Orlen Copernicus Cup in Torun, Poland. The athlete from Botswana won the 1,500 meter race with a time of 3:32.55 minutes – a national record.
But just before Masalela crossed the finish line, he made a pistol gesture with his fingers in the direction of second-placed Frenchman Azeddine Habz. It was a celebration with serious consequences: Masalela was removed from the rankings due to “inappropriate behavior”. According to reports, Masalela lodged a protest, but his request failed. What exactly motivated Masalela to make the gesture is unclear. Pictures from the past show that he has made the gesture several times.
