“For us, Yasmina is a champion”: Kazakhstani athlete to receive prize money for stripped Asiada gold

The Kazakhstani athlete won the race walk event at the Asian Games after completing the 42-kilometer distance, but was ultimately left without a medal.

Her result was appealed due to the use of non-compliant footwear.

The Kazakhstan Athletics Federation clarified the incident, stating that the athlete will receive prize money in the same amount as other champions of the Games.

"For us, Yasmina is a champion. The Federation will continue to support her. Regardless of the outcome of our protests and complaints, all prize payments intended for a champion will be fully covered by the Federation using its own funds," the federation stated.

At the same time, the KAF stated they are continuing to fight for the result and have filed a formal protest.

"The World Athletics list of approved footwear includes the ASICS brand. However, the specific model of shoes Yasmina wore was missing from that list. Furthermore, the athlete's footwear was inspected before the competition, and she was subsequently cleared to start. In light of this, the Federation will continue its work to protect Yasmina's rights and interests.

At the same time, the Federation does not waive its responsibility. In addition to high-quality training and athletic results, compliance with established regulations and technical requirements, as well as the effective protection of athletes' interests in international sports organizations, is of vital importance," the statement noted.

Tengri Sport has requested clarification on the situation from the Kazakhstan Athletics Federation, the National Olympic Committee, and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, asking to identify those responsible for ensuring athletes' equipment complies with competition rules.

Earlier, the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan issued a statement regarding Yasmina Toksanbayeva being stripped of her Asian Games medal due to her sneakers.