Olympic athletics: Algerian runner excluded for not trying

London: Algerian runner Taoufik Makhloufi has been thrown out of the Olympic Games here for not trying hard enough in his 800-metre heat Monday, according to a International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) statement Monday.

Makhloufi has already qualified for Tuesday`s 1,500-metre final as semi-final winner. He didn`t finish Monday morning`s 800-metre heat. "Makhloufi did not finish the race," the statement said. "The referee considered that he had not provided a bonafide effort and decided to exclude him from participation in all further events in the competition under Rule 142.4." An IAAF spokeswoman said the athlete could be reinstated with a medical certificate from an independent local doctor explaining he had an ailment that troubled him. Kuwaiti runner Mohammad Al-Azemi was also disqualified from 800-metre event Monday for obstruction. IANS