New Delhi's Commonwealth Games have witnessed the most dramatic and even perhaps most farcical event of the competition after 24-year-old Sally Pearson thought she had become the first Australian woman since Raelene Boyle in 1974 to win gold in the 100 metres sprint.

The race took just 11.28 seconds, but athletics officials spent four hours deliberating before deciding that Pearson should be disqualified for a false start following an appeal from the English team.

Pearson, nee McLellan, initially seemed to believe she had false-started, throwing her hands to her face and stopping on the track, only for the judges to turn their focus on another competitor.

Pearson was then allowed to take part in the re-start and was jubilant at her apparent win.

She draped herself in the flag, ran a victory lap, gave a television interview, and at one stage was allowed to start to walk out for her medal ceremony.

The appeal was quickly lodged and Pearson spent four agonising hours at the main stadium while argument raged.

Australia lodged a counter-appeal, but it was unsuccessful.

A weeping Pearson said she was "devastated" after the verdict was handed down.

"I guess I am just numb right now. I don't really know how to feel. Obviously devastated and very disappointed."

She said she had been kept in the dark while the appeal was decided.

"I didn't know anything was going on. I was told that I was in the clear. I was walking out to do my medal ceremony and they called us back and said that there was still a protest going on.

"No-one could tell me what it was about, who it was against, and that is probably the most disappointing thing because I still thought I was alright.

"I was getting told all these different stories and I was never once told the truth.

"Never once told what was going on, and I don't think that is fair.

"I mean, as a competitor and an athlete ... this is our career, this is our job.

"This is what we train for and to run the race, do this victory lap, everything OK, and then be told 'oh no, you can't have your medal now'.

"It is horrible, but I have to deal with it because that is just the way sport is."

England appealed the result after Laura Turner was disqualified for breaking early like Pearson, allowed to re-start under protest, but had her result wiped.

Nigerian Osayemi Oludamola was awarded the gold medal, with Natasha Mayers of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines awarded silver and England's Katherine Endacott bronze.