Above is a photograph of steeplechasers Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad and Ezekiel Kemboi in happier times, after Kemboi won the 2012 Olympic steeplechase and Mekhissi-Benabbad finished second. At the most recent Olympics, though, Kemboi finished third and Mekhissi-Benabbad finished fourth... until the French federation appealed and disqualified Kemboi for stepping on the line after a water jump. Kemboi retired after winning bronze, but came out of retirement once he was disqualified.

Here is a photo of Kemboi stepping on the line via what appears to be someone's Snapchat as featured in a Kenyan newspaper:



The DQ was a cheap way for Mekhissi-Benabbad to get an Olympic medal, and a cruel way to prolong the career of the GOAT. Haters have been out in force--LetsRun called it an "outrageous move showing a complete lack of sportsmanship," and it was--so Mekhissi-Benabbad responded today.

It is forecast to be 96 degrees for tomorrow's Paris Diamond League meet, but Mekhissi-Benabbad's take was much hotter than that.

"There are rules, we have to follow rules, not to cheat... [compares to football] Maradona put goal with hand. He cheated. I did not cheat"

— Chris Lotsbom (@ChrisLotsbom) August 26, 2016

"I'm sad of Ezekiel but he did make the mistake... They are rules. If it had been the other way, Kenya would have disqualified me."

— Chris Lotsbom (@ChrisLotsbom) August 26, 2016

"There are rules, we have to follow rules, not to cheat... [compares to football] Maradona put goal with hand. He cheated. I did not cheat"

— Chris Lotsbom (@ChrisLotsbom) August 26, 2016

This take is so hot, the water from the steeple pit would evaporate upon contact with it.