The aspirations of Iranian heptathlete Fatemeh Mohitizadeh for a medal at the Asian Games 2026 have been abruptly dashed due to her disqualification from the event.
On the first day of competition in Aichi-Nagoya, she was leading the women’s heptathlon with a significant advantage of nearly 100 points.
Strong Start Cut Short
Fatemeh Mohitizadeh made a remarkable return to the heptathlon, showcasing impressive performances in the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, and 200m, accumulating 3,486 points and positioning herself as the frontrunner for the second day.
Footwear Violation Leads to Disqualification
However, her chances of clinching gold vanished when a footwear violation during the long jump led to her disqualification. Technical officials determined that her choice of shoes did not comply with World Athletics regulations.
Details of the Footwear Issue
On the second day of the heptathlon, Fatemeh began with a commendable long jump of 5.97 meters. Yet, her performance was overshadowed by complaints from other competitors, prompting a technical review. Officials found that she wore shoes with spikes that violated regulations concerning sole thickness and design specifications for multi-event disciplines. According to World Athletics rules, shoes must have a sole thickness of no more than 20mm.
Consequences of the Violation
Due to her non-compliance with the technical specifications, Fatemeh was disqualified under World Athletics Rule TR7.1 (TR5.2), resulting in the annulment of her previous scores in the event.
Controversy Erupts at the Stadium
Entering Day 2 with a commanding lead, Fatemeh found herself embroiled in a controversy that shocked the athletics community. Her long jump performance had briefly solidified her top position, but the formal protest from rivals led to a thorough inspection of her equipment.
Iran’s Medal Count
Despite this setback, Iran has already secured 24 medals, including 6 gold, 11 silver, and 7 bronze. However, Fatemeh’s disqualification sent shockwaves through the Iranian delegation present at the venue.
Profile of Fatemeh Mohitizadeh
Fatemeh Mohitizadeh’s unexpected disqualification has drawn significant attention during the Asian Games 2026. Her exit from the competition opens up opportunities for other athletes as the event nears its conclusion. Hailing from Kerman, Iran, she has emerged as one of West Asia’s top multi-event athletes. Fatemeh made her international debut at the Asian Youth Championships in 2019, finishing fourth, and has since made notable strides in her career.
Achievements and Recognition
She earned her first major international accolade with a silver medal at the Asian Indoor Championships in 2024, followed by a gold at the West Asian Championships in heptathlon. In November 2025, she set a national record of 5562 points while winning gold at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh. Additionally, Fatemeh is a three-time national heptathlon champion, having won titles in 2019, 2023, and 2025, and was the indoor national champion in 2024.