Why was South Korea disqualified and then reinstated in the men’s 4x100m relay at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?

Organizers initially disqualified South Korea over an alleged baton exchange violation between first runner Kim Si-on and second runner Joel Jin Nwamadi. The coaching staff appealed with video evidence, and the jury of appeal accepted the appeal and reinstated the team.

Who ran for South Korea in the men’s 4x100m relay heats in Nagoya?

The relay team was Kim Si-on, Joel Jin Nwamadi, Daniel Biwesa and Lee Jae-seong. They ran the heats at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Japan.

When is the men’s 4x100m relay final, and what does the overturned ruling mean for South Korea?

The final was scheduled for Monday. With the disqualification overturned, South Korea remained in the race for a medal in the event.

S. Korea advances to men's 4x100m relay final after disqualification overturned

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Summary

South Korea advanced to the men’s 4x100-meter relay final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Nagoya after organizers overturned an earlier disqualification. The team appealed a baton-exchange ruling and was reinstated by the jury of appeal. Coach Ha Kyung-su said the team will compete in the final.

Key Facts

The South Korean team consisted of Kim Si-on, Joel Jin Nwamadi, Daniel Biwesa and Lee Jae-seong.
The disqualification stemmed from an alleged baton exchange rule violation between Kim and Nwamadi.
South Korea had ranked fourth in its heat and seventh overall among the 12 teams before the appeal was accepted.
The men’s 4x100m relay final was scheduled for Monday.
Nwamadi and Biwesa finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the men’s 100m race on Friday.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 28, 2026 10:33 am KST

South Korean athletes leave the track after being disqualified during the heats of the men's 4x100-meter relay at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Sunday. Yonhap

NAGOYA — South Korea has advanced to the men's 4x100-meter relay final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after an earlier disqualification decision was overturned, organizers said Monday.

The team of Kim Si-on, Joel Jin Nwamadi, Daniel Biwesa and Lee Jae-seong was disqualified during the heats of the men's 4x100m relay at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, on Sunday due to an alleged violation of the baton exchange rule between first runner Kim and second runner Nwamadi.

Based on time, the South Korean team ranked fourth in its heat and seventh overall among the 12 teams, with the top eight teams advancing to the final scheduled for Monday.

The coaching staff immediately appealed the decision, and the appeal was accepted.

The South Korean team was reinstated by the jury of appeal, according to the Asian Games Gameshub site, a real-time scoring and scheduling portal.

"Right after the decision, we submitted our videos, appealing that we are not subject to disqualification, and the organizers accepted it," coach Ha Kyung-su said. "We will compete in the final."

He said the jury earlier determined that Kim and Nwamadi had exchanged the baton outside the exchange zone.

With the disqualification overturned, South Korea can continue its bid for a medal in the men's 4x100m relay, spearheaded by Nwamadi and Biwesa, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the men's 100m race on Friday.

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