FanDuel bans bettor for heckling Gabby Thomas
Share this @internewscast.com

The bettor posted on social media that he “made Gabby lose by heckling her. And it made my parlay win.”

Over the weekend, a sports bettor who taunted Olympic gold medalist sprinter Gabby Thomas at a Grand Slam Track event in Philadelphia has been banned from the betting platform FanDuel Sportsbook.

In a statement released to The Associated Press on Wednesday, FanDuel stated it “strongly condemns any form of abusive behavior towards athletes. Threatening or harassing athletes is intolerable and doesn’t belong in sports. This individual’s account has been permanently suspended from using FanDuel services.”

During the event, Thomas secured a fourth-place finish in the 100-meter race, which was won by Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. The bettor claimed on social media that his heckling contributed to Thomas’s loss and mentioned that it helped his parlay triumph. He shared an image of his betting slip, which showed Jefferson-Wooden as the winner of the 100-meter event.

Thomas, the 200-meter champion at the Paris Games last summer, explained the heckling incident on X. She wrote: “This grown man followed me around the track as I took pictures and signed autographs for fans (mostly children) shouting personal insults — anybody who enables him online is gross.”

Grand Slam Track, a track league launched by Hall of Fame sprinter Michael Johnson this spring, wrote in a statement it was “conducting a full investigation into the reprehensible behavior captured on video.

“We are working to identify the individual involved and will take appropriate action as necessary. We will implement additional safeguards to help prevent incidents like this in the future. Let us be clear, despicable behavior like this will not be tolerated.”

ESPN first reported the bettor had been banned by FanDuel. The Grand Slam Track season wraps up with the fourth and final meet in Los Angeles on June 28-29.

The Thomas incident is the latest in a string of stalking and abuse of female athletes. Frida Karlsson, a Swedish cross-country skiing world champion, recently brought her experience with stalking into public view when she went through a trial.

A man in his 60s was given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay 40,000 kronor ($4,100) in damages after being convicted of stalking Karlsson for a year and four months, according to Swedish news agency TT. The man, according to the indictment, called Karlsson 207 times, left her voicemails and text messages and approached her, including outside her apartment.

In February, police in the United Arab Emirates detained a man who caused British tennis player Emma Raducanu distress by exhibiting “ fixated behavior ” toward he at a tennis tournament. Raducanu had been approached by the man at the Dubai Championships where he left her a note, took her photograph and engaged in behavior that caused her distress, according to the government of Dubai’s media office.

AP Sports Writers Mark Anderson and Schuyler Dixon contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Hair growth treatments recall due to a lack of child-proof packaging

Recall Issued for Hair Growth Products Over Insufficient Child-Proof Packaging

Consumers are urged to promptly store the recalled serum bottles in a…
Top Iran prayer leader who dubbed protesters 'Trump's soldiers' calls for executions amid ongoing unrest

Iran’s Leading Cleric Labels Protesters as ‘Trump’s Soldiers,’ Advocates for Executions Amid Continued Unrest

An Iranian cleric has ignited controversy by advocating for the execution of…
Ohio dentist slayings suspect indicted on more aggravated murder, burglary charges

Ohio Dentist Murder Suspect Faces New Charges for Aggravated Murder and Burglary

A Franklin County grand jury has charged Michael McKee with several counts…
DOJ: California man found with missing Jacksonville child in 2023 sentenced to prison

California Man Sentenced for Involvement with Missing Jacksonville Child Found in 2023

In a recent court decision, Gyasi Wallace, a 33-year-old from California, received…
ABC7 Chicago Job: Desk Assistant

ABC7 Chicago Enhances Accessibility for All Viewers

Accessibility at WLS Immediate Closed Captioning Questions or Issues To report an…
NFL playoffs: Resurgent Chicago Bears collide with Los Angeles Rams in divisional round matchup featuring high-powered offenses

Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams: High-Octane Offenses Set to Clash in NFL Divisional Playoff Showdown

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Ben Johnson has long delved into the intricacies…
Exiled Iranian crown prince reveals 6-step plan to exert pressure on Tehran's regime

Iran’s Exiled Crown Prince Unveils Strategic 6-Step Plan to Challenge Tehran’s Regime

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran, revealed a strategic 6-step…
Gurnee pedestrian killed: Javier Contreras-Bulnes charged months after Amber Knowles hit, killed by truck on Delany Road: Police

Justice Pursued: Javier Contreras-Bulnes Charged Months After Tragic Hit-and-Run of Amber Knowles in Gurnee

In Gurnee, Illinois, authorities have filed charges months after a tragic accident…
Former TV anchor accused of stabbing 80-year-old mother to death, telling police she did it to 'save herself'

Shocking Twist: Ex-TV Anchor’s Murder Case Halted as She’s Deemed Unfit for Trial

The legal proceedings against a former TV news anchor accused of murdering…
'We must do better': Protesters rally at Jacksonville City Hall, demand mayor speak out against ICE

Jacksonville City Hall Protestors Demand Mayor’s Stand Against ICE Policies

Protesters have taken to city hall, urging Mayor Donna Deegan to make…
Hands-free driving bills have been filed in Florida. Here's what to know

Florida’s Hands-Free Driving Legislation: What It Means for Your Commute

Efforts to strengthen Florida’s stance against distracted driving are gaining momentum, as…
Man killed riding illegal electric bike in crash outside UN in Manhattan

Tragic Electric Bike Accident Claims Life Near UN Headquarters in Manhattan

A man tragically lost his life while riding a high-speed, unpermitted electric…