Guyana's Marian Burnette has fallen victim to the fierce rivalry associated with American sports and will miss this weekend's first division outdoor college athletics championships as a result.
A hot favourite to win the women's 800 metres title, Burnette was pulled from the Louisiana State University team after being deemed ineligible by the NCAA ruling body.
A rule which restricts the participation of foreign athletes was used against Burnette after it was brought to the attention of the NCAA by a rival school.
It states that foreigners who compete after age 21 before entering the NCAA organisation would have their participation cut by a maximum of two years from the four years of college competition.
Burnette represented Guyana at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Venezuela in 1998 and the CAC championships in Barbados in 1999 after she passed 21 years before competing for two years at junior college level.
As a result her NCAA participation was reduced to two years for which she has already completed for Essex Community College in 2001 and 2000.
It means her outdoor career in the NCAA has ended. However, she will be eligible for next year's indoor competition as she never competed at that level before going to the United States.
Burnette's LSU coach Mark Elliot told Stabroek News that they were unaware of her ineligibility up to five weeks ago and were banking heavily on the Guyanese to help them win the women's team title.
The Guyana Police Force athlete had spearheaded LSU to the indoor title in March after winning the 800 metres gold.
Elliot said Burnette's only option now is to compete on the European circuit and in high level meets in the United States this year. He added that every effort will done to make it a reality.