Battling Baala bemoans luck after fall

DAEGU, South Korea - France's Mehdi Baala, who slugged it out on the track with a teammate in Monaco last month, is starting to think he is cursed after falling in the 1,500 meters heats at the World Championships on Tuesday.

Olympic bronze medalist Baala made headlines when he traded blows with Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad in an extraordinary incident at the finish line at a Diamond League meeting after they both trailed home as backmarkers in the 1,500m on July 22.

On Tuesday, the 33-year-old 2003 world silver medalist was looking good for a place in the semifinals from the second heat but tripped on the kerb and fell over when coming into the home straight.