Baala & Mekhissi-Benabbad clear for World Championships

French duo Medhi Baala and Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad have been cleared to run in this month's World Championships despite their remarkable recent brawl.

They spectacularly came to blows last month at the end of the 1,500m at a Diamond League meeting in Monaco.

The French Federation have allowed them to run in the Championships in Daegu, South Korea, which begin on 27 August.

But the pair have been fined and handed 10-month bans from racing outside of France with five months suspended.

Baala, world silver medallist in 2003 and bronze medallist in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, clashed with Benabbad, the 3000m steeplechase Olympic silver medallist, after they finished ninth and 11th in the 1500m race in Monte Carlo on 22 July.

Benabbad lashed out at his senior team-mate when he came over to console him. Punches and slaps were exchanged, to the jeers and whistles of a large crowd at the Louis II stadium.

Officials had to separate the pair, who continued to exchange strong words as they moved off the track and were soon provisionally suspended by the French governing body.

In addition to their fine and suspended bans, the shamed pair will each have to pay 1,500 euro (£1,300) fines and serve 50 hours of community service.