US disqualified from men's 4x100 relay as Canada takes gold

PARIS, France — Team USA was disqualified in the men's 4x100-meter relay final in Paris, although the team wouldn't have medaled even without the DQ. 

The curse continued in Paris. 

U.S. runner Christian Coleman struggled to hand the baton to teammate Kenneth Bednarek, running out of zone during the disastrous handoff. Coleman first ran into, then passed, Bednarek as they made their awkward exchange. After the race finished, judges determined they had passed out of zone. 

Why was the US disqualified? 

An out of zone penalty occurs when a runner ending their stretch still has the baton when they exit the handoff zone where the next runner — already beginning their sprint — is supposed to accept the pass. 

It's a serious misstep that meant an instant disqualification for the team, no matter their standing beforehand or after. 

Andre De Grasse put a bright mark on an otherwise disappointing Olympics by anchoring Canada to gold in a time of 37.50 seconds. It was the first medal in Paris for De Grasse, but his seventh overall. South Africa finished second and Britain third.

The U.S. team qualified for the finals Thursday, with the fastest time in the heats at 37.37 seconds. That time gave some hope that the quartet would be able to break the 20-year drought that hung over them. 

Many expected the lineup of Coleman, Fred Kerley, Kyree King and Courtney Lindsey, to change for the finals.

However, Noah Lyles, the gold medalist in the 100 meters, had to bow out revealing after the 200-meter final he was diagnosed with COVID-19.

The disappointing end to the race comes minutes after Sha'Carri Richardson was able to come from behind in the women's 4x100 final to win gold for the U.S.