Rodriguez: Tactical mistake cost gold

MADRID: Spain's Natalia Rodriguez on Monday blamed a "tactical mistake" for her disqualification as the winner of the women's 1,500 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin on Sunday.

"I am disappointed in myself because deep down I believe I made a tactical mistake," the teary-eyed 30-year-old told reporters as she arrived at Madrid's Barajas airport.

Rodriguez was judged by the race referee to have pushed over Ethiopian Gelete Burka down the back straight as runners jockeyed for position going into the final curve, leaving reigning world champion Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain to retain her crown.