The Japanese Hiroto Inoue, winner in Jakarta of the Asian Games marathon, was accused of having pushed in the final sprint his Bahrain opponent, Elhassan Elabassi, who filed a claim.

The controversial incident occurred last Saturday, when Inoue and Elabassi entered the Jakarta stadium at the last hectometres of the race, although the Japanese had a slight advantage.

In the last 100 meters, Elabassi tried to overtake his rival on the inside before being ejected backwards in what appeared to be a contact between the two athletes.

"The runner in the lead pushed me," Elabassi said. "If not, I would have won."

The coach of the Bahrain runner, Gregory Kilonso, announced that a claim had been filed. "He was going to take the lead when the other pushed him in. He almost fell, the Japanese decided to push him when he saw that he was going to overtake him," he said.

The two athletes finished the 42.195 km with the same time of 2h, 17 minutes and 22 seconds, but Inoue, favorite of the race, won by very little.

"I do not know what happened before the line, I'm surprised, but I do not understand what happened," Inoue said.