Kazakhstan’s Yasmina Toxanbayeva crossed the line first in the women’s marathon race walk at the Asian Games in Japan but was later disqualified over her footwear. The Kazakhstan Athletics Federation is challenging the decision, which followed a finding that her shoe model was not on World Athletics’ approved list.
She completed the 42.195-kilometer race at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on September 27 in 3 hours, 22 minutes, and 20 seconds.
China’s Danzengquzong finished nearly four minutes behind in 3:26:09, while her compatriot Ma Li recorded 3:32:26.
According to Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee, officials checked the leading finishers’ shoes for compliance with World Athletics regulations. The model worn by Toxanbayeva was not on the approved list. Photographs and information about the footwear were sent to World Athletics, and the medal ceremony was postponed pending a ruling.
World Athletics determined that the shoes did not meet its requirements. The Olympic Council of Asia confirmed her disqualification on September 28. The revised standings awarded Danzengquzong gold, Ma Li silver, and Japan’s Yukiko Umeno, who had initially finished fourth, bronze.
The Kazakhstan Athletics Federation challenged the decision. It said Toxanbayeva had competed in ASICS shoes, but acknowledged that the specific model she wore was not on the World Athletics approved list. The federation also said her shoes had been inspected before the race and she had been cleared to start.
The federation said it had filed a protest and a complaint against the decision and would continue to defend Toxanbayeva’s interests. It also acknowledged its own responsibility for ensuring compliance with competition regulations and technical requirements.
World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, maintains a database of shoes approved for competition. Athletes must use an approved model for the relevant discipline. Approval of other shoes made by the same manufacturer does not make an unlisted model eligible.
The current Athletic Shoe Regulations were approved on March 19, 2026, and took effect on April 20.
A similar footwear controversy had already affected the medal standings at the current Asian Games. Iranian heptathlete Fatemeh Mohitizadeh was disqualified after officials ruled that the shoes she used during the long jump did not comply with World Athletics regulations. Her disqualification moved Kazakhstan’s Alina Chistyakova from fourth to third, giving her the bronze medal.
The Kazakhstan Athletics Federation said that regardless of the outcome of its challenge, it would pay Toxanbayeva the prize money she would have received for winning the event from its own funds.
“For us, Yasmina is the champion. The Federation will continue to support her,” it said.
As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakh cyclist Alexey Lutsenko won the sixth Asian Games gold medal of his career at Aichi-Nagoya, setting a national record for the most Asian Games titles won by a Kazakh athlete.
