Olympic athletics: Algerian Taoufik Makhloufi reinstated for 1,500 final

London: Algerian middle-distance runner Taoufik Makhloufi has been reinstated for the 1,500-meter final after he had been disqualified from the London Olympics for allegedly not trying hard enough Monday in the 800 heats.

Makhloufi had already qualified for Tuesday`s 1,500 final, where he was a likely medal contender, when he stopped running in the first lap of his 800 heat. The race referee ruled that the 24-year-old African champion in the 800 was guilty of "failure to compete honestly with bona fide effort" but the Algerian federation insisted he had a knee problem and that organizers knew about it. After assessing evidence of a games medical officer, the disqualification was revoked and the runner can compete in Tuesday`s 1,500 final. Agencies