Local athlete stages protest at championships in Spain after having been banned from representing Gibraltar

A local athlete who was banned from representing Gibraltar in the World Master Athletics championships in Malaga this weekend, staged a protest by unfurling a Gibraltar flag at the end of his race, having run in “neutral” colours till that point.

Liam Byrne was the only one of five athletes banned from representing Gibraltar who decided to compete instead of boycott, after receiving a letter from the WMA claiming the instruction came from the Spanish government. Mr Byrne’s protest means he may be disqualified, despite having come fourth in the race and qualifying for Monday’s semifinal. 

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