• American sprinter Devon Allen was disqualified from the finals of the men's 110m hurdles for a false start at World Championships.
• Allen ran off the block .099 seconds after the gun — runners have to wait until .1 seconds after the gun.
• Allen expressed frustration over the DQ, saying he had trained all year for one event.

Devon Allen missed a shot at a world championship gold medal for a false start that was barely perceptible.

At Track and Field World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday, the 27-year-old sprinter was disqualified from the finals of the men's 110-meter hurdles for jumping off the block just .001 seconds too quick. Rules and regulations allow racers leave their blocks .1 seconds after the gun; sensors at the starting line logged Allen's reaction time at .099 seconds. 

Allen, who is also a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, was in disbelief. His reaction time in the semifinal was .101 seconds, safe by one-thousandth of a second. 

The .1 seconds threshold was established, based on the theory that any movement quicker would be indicative of an athlete anticipating the gun, rather than reacting it. The number is somewhat arbitrary, though backed by some science, but the IAAF's own commissioned study from 2009 suggested lowering the limit to .080 or .085 seconds.