The steeplechaser who outran the rest of the field with ease in the European Championships last night and got disqualified for gloating is a bit of a loose cannon.
It turns out that humiliating his opponents by removing his singlet in the final stretch isn't the worst thing Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad has ever done on the running track.
At the 2012 European Championships Frenchman shamelessly shoved a mascot while it was offering him a gift bag. To make matters worse, the costume was being worn by a 14-year-old girl. What a classy guy! If this is how he reacts to people offering him presents one can only imagine what he would do if he was being provoked.
Hold on there a second! Rest easy, you don't have to use your imagination at all. At a 2011 Diamond League meeting Mkhissi-Benabbad got involved in a full-on fight with his fellow competitor and countryman Mehdi Baala in the middle of the running track. Baala instigated the brawl by headbutting the fiery tempered Frenchman before all hell broke loose.
Both athletes were suspended for 10 moths, fined €1,500 and were ordered to complete 50 hours of community service. Despite being suspended, they were both cleared to compete in the 2011 World Championships.
