Israeli Olympic Committee disqualifies its own bobsleigh team over 'unsportsmanlike' declaration to officials
A chance to contest in a four-man bobsleigh final was taken away from the Israeli team after the nation's governing body disqualified the quartet due to one athlete lying.
Israel were scheduled to complete their third run in hopes of earning a spot in the four-man final on Sunday when it was announced they had been disqualified from the race.
AJ Edelman, Menachem Chen, Uri Zisman and Omer Katz had all raced on the ice prior to the third run, however, the team requested reserve bobsledder Ward Fawarseh step in for Sunday's event as Zisman was ill.
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As per the Olympic rules, athletes can not use their alternate unless a member of the original team is ill or injured.
According to the Israeli Olympic Committee, the three of the quartet had "encouraged the other team member" to falsely declare that he was unwell.
"He even went for a medical examination and signed an affidavit so that the Olympic Committee could request approval for a substitution," a statement, shared to The Times of Israel, on the matter said.
Israel's bobsleigh team in action at the Olympic Winter Games. Getty
"Zisman admitted to the head of the delegation that he had acted improperly.
"This forced the Olympic Committee of Israel to withdraw the request and disqualify the move."
The statement continued and declared that the request "goes against fair and sportsmanlike conduct".
Israel were positioned 24th out of 27th leading into the third run, but in a positive sign for the team's development they did produce the ninth best speed in the second run.
The quartet released a statement to apologise to their fans for their actions on Sunday.
"Given that our placement going into the final run was all but predetermined, it was more important to us that our alternate could have the opportunity to compete in the Olympics," it wrote.
(L-R) Adam Edelman, Menachem Chen, Uri Zisman and Omer Katz are happy in the finish area. dpa/picture alliance via Getty I
"The team moved to make the replacement, but the circumstances under which we made the substitution did not meet the bar that allows a team to make a line-up change, and we withdrew from our final run.
"While we are sorry that this will not end for all of us in the way we hoped, we are proud of the history we made representing Israel.
"The team is not just a team, we are a family.
"Thank you for being part of this amazing adventure with us ... we are proud of the journey we all took with you."
