BIRMINGHAM, Feb 17: American sprinter Xavier Carter was disqualified after winning the 400 meters at the Norwich Union indoor meet on Saturday.

Officials said the 21-year-old Carter stepped out of his lane before overtaking Robert Tobin of Britain just ahead of the line at the meet in Birmingham, central England.

It was Carter's only planned indoor race this year.

“I have no idea why I was disqualified,” Carter said. “It's a bit shocking to me because personally I think I ran the race how it was supposed to be ran. I never felt myself stepping on the line. I didn't feel myself breaking into it.”

Carter, whose real target this year is the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, said he was surprised by Tobin, who won in 46.07 seconds.—AP