Berdine Castillo, one of the two national athletes involved in the trial for racism and discrimination against the vice president of World Athletics, Ximena Restrepo, had revealing statements this Monday regarding the insults that Martina Weil’s mother had said to her to remove it from the 4×400 sprint competition at the last Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.
After Restrepo’s final acquittal by the National Sports Arbitration Committee (CNAD) became effective a few days ago, the Chilean-Haitian runner decided to express her disagreement with the arbitration ruling.
Ximena Restrepo’s racist phrase
She did so in an interview given to Mega, where the athlete recalled Restrepo’s insults and the radical decision she made after learning of the decision that the CNAD made in the case of the athletic leader and coach Marcelo Gajardo – also acquitted -, the accused by Castillo of having discriminated against her to remove her from the 4×400 team.
Yes, I want to continue competing, because I have my individual events, which are the 800 meters.
— Berdine Castillo
“I heard when he said, ‘I’m taking Berdine out of relief.’ I was like ‘but what’s happening’. Since she called my coach, when she was directing my warm-up, I said the broom is going to stay there,” said Berdine, still shocked by the former Colombian athlete’s words. “My coach was present. He said: ‘This black woman (…) this black woman doesn’t have to run,’ “said the athlete, who in conversation with biobiochile.cl gave an account of the drastic decision she made when she learned of the acquittal.
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My coach was present. He said: ‘This black woman (…) this black woman doesn’t have to run
— Berdine Castillo
“After what happened, I told my coach: ‘I don’t want to know more about the relay.’ “All my desire was gone,” he said.
“Yes, I want to continue competing, because I have my individual events, which are the 800 meters,” concluded the athlete, who thus put an end to the media complaint against the sports leader.
