American star accuses Olympics organisers of favouring compatriot Noah Lyles ahead 200m final

Drama is unfolding in the lead-up to the highly anticipated 200m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with American sprinter Kenny Bednarek accusing the organisers of bias towards his compatriot, Noah Lyles.

Bednarek, who registered a faster time of 20.00s in the semifinal heats, was baffled by the decision to place him in lane 9 for the final, while Lyles, the reigning 100m champion, was allocated the more favourable lane 5.

Outraged by the apparent bias, Bednarek took to social media to voice his concerns, stating: "Never seen favouritism like this on a global scale."

After a protest, he was eventually moved to lane 8, but the American sprinter remains unhappy with the situation.

Bednarek's frustrations come as he prepares to take on not only his American teammate Lyles, but also a formidable field of African sprinters, led by Botswana's Letsile Tebogo, who topped Lyles in the semifinal.

With four African athletes vying for the gold, along with Bednarek and Lyles, the 200m final is shaping up to be one of the tightest races in recent Olympic history.

The positioning of the lanes has only added to the drama, with reports suggesting that lanes 7-9 may put athletes at a disadvantage compared to the central lanes.

As the world watches, the stage is set for a thrilling clash of sprinting titans, with the American camp embroiled in controversy and the African contingent poised to make a significant impact on the outcome of the race.