A sports activities bettor who heckled Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas throughout a Grand Slam Observe occasion in Philadelphia final weekend has reportedly been banned by FanDuel Sportsbook. Nevertheless, the person in the midst of the controversy claims in any other case.
This grown man adopted me across the monitor as I took photos and signed autographs for followers (principally kids) shouting private insults- anyone who allows him on-line is gross https://t.co/f9a6vPkX0v
— Gabby Thomas (@itsgabbyt) June 2, 2025
In an announcement to the Related Press on Wednesday, FanDuel mentioned it “condemns within the strongest phrases abusive behaviour directed towards athletes. Threatening or harassing athletes is unacceptable and has no place in sports activities. This buyer is now not in a position to wager with the sportsbook.”
Thomas completed fourth in a 100m race received by fellow American Melissa Jefferson-Wood. After the race, the bettor posted on social media that he had “made Gabby lose” by heckling her, which made his parlay win. The X person shared a screenshot of his $800 profitable guess slip, which confirmed Jefferson-Wood profitable the ladies’s 100m over Thomas.
“Don’t choke, Gabby, such as you did yesterday,” the person shouted at Thomas as she settled into the beginning blocks. “You’re a choke artist. You’re going down, Gabby.”
The heckler, who claims to function a handicapping service out of Puerto Rico, informed Canadian Operating he isn’t the particular person behind the FanDuel account. As an alternative, the heckler alleges it was certainly one of his shoppers who pays him a month-to-month US$100 price for his monitor and area picks. When requested for proof, he was unable to offer it.
Thomas, who received Olympic gold within the 200m on the Paris Video games final summer season, addressed the incident on X, writing: “This grown man adopted me across the monitor as I took photos and signed autographs for followers (principally kids), shouting private insults—anyone who allows him on-line is gross.”
I personally don’t have any situation with regular heckling…however in the event you document your self breaking a rule, publish it on-line, and there are penalties, I can’t enable you 😂🤷🏽♀️ I do draw a line with harassment and hate speech on my household.
— Gabby Thomas (@itsgabbyt) June 5, 2025
Grand Slam Observe, the skilled monitor league launched earlier this yr by four-time Olympic dash champion Michael Johnsonreportedly investigated the incident and can implement further safeguards to assist forestall it from taking place sooner or later. “Allow us to be clear: despicable behaviour like this won’t be tolerated,” mentioned Johnson.
