The most extraordinary 48 hours in Isaac Makwala’s career continued on Wednesday with the Botswanan being dramatically reinstated into the 200m at the world championships – before running a solo time trial in 20.20sec to make the semi-finals, and then, only two hours later, qualifying for Thursday’s final after going 0.06 sec quicker.

Makwala crossed the line after his first race to enormous cheers and then started doing press-ups. The implication was clear: athletics’ governing body, the IAAF, had been wrong to bar him from Monday’s 200m heats and Tuesday’s 400m final – where he was the most significant threat to Wayde van Niekerk – after he was suspected to have the norovirus.

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With Van Niekerk, who is attempting to become the first athlete since Michael Johnson in 1995 to achieve an historic 200m/400m world championship double sneaking through as a fastest loser, the stage is set for a showdown between two of the quickest athletes on the planet – something that was supposed to take place over 400m before Makwala was put in quarantine for 48 hours on Monday.

That decision led to extraordinary criticism of the stance of the IAAF and Public Health England by the BBC on Tuesday night, with the former 400m world record holder Johnson hinting at an IAAF conspiracy to keep Makwala from beating Van Niekerk, and Paula Radcliffe and Denise Lewis appearing to question the competency of the head of medical services at London 2017, Pamela Venning.

The IAAF is furious at the BBC’s behaviour and has not only let the broadcaster know in the strongest possible terms but is considering whether to take the matter further. The IAAF is particularly incensed that the BBC’s coverage was heavily tilted towards Makwala’s viewpoint while the integrity of their processes – designed to ensure the norovirus, which has rapidly spread since the weekend, was contained – was repeatedly questioned.

When speaking to the BBC after Van Niekerk’s 400m victory, Venning insisted that letting Makwala race would “risk many, many, many more athletes not competing” because of the “very infectious and very virulent” nature of the virus. As she told the BBC’s panel: “The history from this gentleman is very clear he had symptoms similar to all the other athletes classified as having this gastrointestinal disease.”

However Lewis questioned whether the IAAF “could have checked him again to see if it was conclusive he was unwell to run” before adding “in his heart he believes he is ready”. Meanwhile, Radcliffe asked whether blood tests could have been done, even though Venning explained that blood samples were not relevant.

In the wake of public criticism of the pundits’ questioning, which some likened to bullying, the BBC released a statement saying: “We understand some viewers were unhappy about the way in which Dr Pam Venning was questioned by our presentation team but the tone of the questioning was respectful with Dr Venning able to present the IAAF’s position clearly and effectively.”

Makwala had admitted vomiting after getting off a coach at the London Stadium on Monday before the 200m heats but claimed it was not proof he was contaminated. At the time he said his mind “was broken” and suggested the IAAF had denied him two medals.

Play Video 0:49 Norovirus hits 30 at World Athletics Championships – video

Yet at 12.30pm on Wednesday the Botswana Athletics Association president wrote a letter to the IAAF asking for Makwala to be allowed to compete because his quarantine period would be over at 2pm. He was then cleared by a medical and a special time trial was set up. Even so, Makwala had to run 20.53sec or quicker to qualify for the semi-finals in the freezing cold and driving rain – something he did with aplomb.

Andrew Lichtenthal, the German team doctor, said he agreed with Venning. “I am on her side,” he said. “We are very sorry for the athletes. We don’t do this job because we want to take athletes out. But we are in a crisis – a medical crisis.”

The IAAF president, Sebastian Coe, also insisted his organisation had to follow its strict medical rules in barring Makwala. “No one from the IAAF is showing a lack of empathy with Isaac, far from it in fact.”