A dramatic last-minute ruling has upended the medal standings at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games hosted in Santo Domingo, after the Dominican Republic’s home mixed 4×100-meter relay team was stripped of its initially claimed gold medal following a successful rules violation protest from a competing delegation.
Competing on home soil, the four-person Dominican squad — made up of runners Mayobanex De Óleo, Fiordaliza Cofil, José González and Liranyi Alonso — crossed the finish line to claim what would have been the nation’s 19th gold medal of the regional multi-sport event, sparking widespread celebration among local fans and team officials. That joy quickly turned to disappointment, however, after competition governing officials upheld a protest filed against the team, citing two distinct rule breaches that occurred over the course of the race.
Following a full review of race footage and referee observations, event organizers confirmed the Dominican team committed two actionable infractions: obstruction during the first baton exchange between runners, and a clear lane violation in the third exchange. The protest specifically called out Cofil, who was alleged to have impeded the progress of the Colombian relay team while running the race’s second leg. The ruling immediately stripped the team of its medal, removing the gold from the Dominican Republic’s Games tally.
In response to the disqualification decision, leadership of the Dominican national delegation has formally launched an appeal against the ruling, seeking to overturn the outcome and have the medal reinstated. As of the latest update from Games officials, no timeline has been announced for when the appeal will be reviewed or a final ruling issued, leaving the mixed 4×100m relay medal standings in limbo ahead of the Games’ conclusion.