Despite finishing third, the pair were denied a podium place due to a rule stating that the bronze medal will not be awarded in races with just four entries. The scoreboard at London’s Lee Valley Velopark Velodrome flashed that the pair were medal winners, but Unwin was left in tears after officials informed her of the decision. Unwin and Holt stood behind the medal ceremony holding an England flag before proceeding, and later posed on the podium with medals borrowed from the women’s pursuit four. According to reports from PA Media, the Commonwealth Games Federation today apologized but the UCI fined them and England team coach Keith Reynolds 200 Swiss francs (£172) for “failing to respect the instructions” of organizers. The CGF said: “The policy – which was published in January this year – states that only gold and silver medals are awarded where there are only four competitors. and only gold medals where there are only three or two competitors. “Unfortunately, while the athletes in the women’s sprint tandem B event were informed of this before the competition, the scoreboard and results sheet incorrectly indicated that it was a bronze medal match. We apologize to the athletes involved for the unintended disruption this has caused.”
