High school track star's dad suggests her disqualification over victory celebration racially motivated

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: California high school track star Clara Adams and her father, David, have opened up after the teen sprinter was disqualified from the California state championships over an "unsportsmanlike" celebration.

The 16-year-old won the 400-meter dash in the CIF State Championships and celebrated by using a fire extinguisher on her running spikes, in homage to famed sprinter Maurice Greene, according to the New York Post.

Interestingly, CIF officials immediately approached her, stripped her of her state title, and disqualified her from her other events.

Clara Adams’ father suggests racial motivation behind her disqualification

Clara's father, David, alleged that there was racial motivation behind the disqualification and explained during an appearance on 'The Will Cain Show' on Fox News that the belief comes from a "history in our country."

He said, "I say that because you look at the governing body, you look at the officials that are on the grass, on the grass area."

"I know for a fact, with the history in our country when it comes to celebrations, when a White girl celebrates or a White boy celebrates, it’s called, he’s passionate. He’s good for the sport. We need this for the sport," David Adams added.

He continued, "But when a Black girl or a Black boy or a Brown girl or a black boy, they celebrate, it’s deemed as unprofessional, unsportsmanlike. It’s ghetto. So why is it OK for one to celebrate, not the other? We have seen that before. It’s nothing new. I’m not making this up."

Meanwhile, Cain acknowledged that "there is some merit to what you’re saying" while responding to Adams’ explanation, per the outlet.

During the interview, Clara Adams said she was "set into shock" when she was disqualified from the state championship.

She told Cain, "It was just really disappointing, because they just took my moment away from me that quick. You know, you think about, like, how long I have taken, me and my dad, to work for this moment. And then just for them to take it in minutes, it just — it’s unbelievable."

Clara Adams says 'I am disappointed and feel robbed'

During an interview with Mercury News, Clara Adams said, "I don’t know what’s going through my mind right now. I’m disappointed and I feel robbed. I am in shock. They (officials) yelled at me and told me, 'We’re not letting you on the podium'. They took my moment away from me."

The decision was taken minutes before Adams was about to run the 200 meters, but since she was disqualified, the teenager was not allowed to run the race where she was one of the favorites to win, per the outlet.

David Adams told KSBW, "When she blew the fire extinguisher, the opponents were gone."

"That was our moment of celebration, and CIF officials made it about them. The crowd went crazy, they loved it, the CIF booth went crazy, they loved it. But those few guys in those jackets took offense to it, didn’t like it, and made a decision based off emotions," he added.

Meanwhile, Maurice Greene told the outlet, "When I heard, cause it happened, and then people just started calling me ‘This girl who just ran the 400 did your celebration’ I was like huh? What?"

The Olympic gold medalist added that he feels CIF officials should reconsider their decision.

"If it was away from everyone and not interfering with anyone, I would say reinstate her," he said.